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Police Officer Accused of Murder Tells His Side of the Story

Officer Richard Young was charged with murder Saturday after shooting a man.

Many in his native Owens Crossroads say he may be wrongfully charged. But his wife and the victim's family are telling a different story.

Shortly after being charged with murder, Officer Richard Young bonded out of jail. The Owens-Crossroads police officer has served this small town for years.

Investigators say this weekend he made a bad choice. Police believe Officer Young shot and killed a New Hope man named Curtis Anderton. It happened early Saturday morning at Young's house following a heated argument.

On Monday, people in this small town were talking. Many of them defending Richard Young's character: 

"He's a nice guy - he treats people right," Matthew Maples said.

"I've known Officer Young for quite some time and I know him to be a good man, a good police officer and an asset to this community," Jim Kennamer said.

Even so, Officer Young won't be patrolling these roads during his investigation.

Since the weekend shooting, this is where Officer Young's car has been parked and this is where it will stay until the investigation is over.

Officer Young is now partially blaming his wife for the shooting. Young says his wife, from whom he is separated, unexpectedly showed up at his house Friday. She came along with Curtis Anderton and Anderton's wife. Young says his wife and Anderton beat him up. His bruises and broken arm seen here support that claim.

The shooting? Young calls it an act of self-defense. His wife Christine tells a different story. According to her, Richard told her and Curtis that night he was having an affair with Curtis' wife. A fight broke out and Christine claims Richard went off the deep end. According to her, Richard grabbed his patrol gun and shot Curtis because Curtis was upset about the alleged affair. 

WAFF 48 News spoke to Curtis Anderton's family today. They didn't want to say much but they're obviously distraught over the whole situation. Curtis's mom tells me she's had a number of losses in the past year and this was the last thing she needed.

They'll have his funeral as soon as his autopsy is released.