73-year-old shoots another man. It may have been self-defense, police say

A 22-year-old man was shot and wounded early Thursday by a 73-year-old man, who sustained a possible broken leg after a confrontation along a Fancher Creek canal bank in southeast Fresno, police said.

Ambulances took both men away from the scene, near Argyle and Tulare streets.

The older man, identified as Philip Kiser, was authorized to carry a concealed weapon, police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

The man who was shot was identified as Damon Ray Martin.

Kiser lives in the area and frequently walks along the canal bank in the morning cleaning up trash, Dyer said. Martin stays with relatives, who live in front of the shooting scene, and sometimes sleeps along the canal, Dyer said, adding that the two have had arguments in the past.

Kiser may be a former officer in the California Bureau of Corrections.

Dyer noted it's early in the investigation, but said Kaiser was walking along the canal when a confrontation began with Martin, and Kiser was struck with a stick and may have sustained a broken leg. Kiser then pulled out a handgun and fired three shots, striking Martin. It was initially reported that Martin was struck in the hip and wrist.

The chief said it appears Kiser would be justified for firing his handgun in self-defense. However the shooting will be investigated and officers are looking for video evidence and seeking witnesses.

This story was originally published March 8, 2018 at 8:41 AM with the headline "73-year-old shoots another man. It may have been self-defense, police say."