Man pulls gun, pistol whips friend of 50 years over Bruno Mars song

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Justin L. Mack, Indianapolis Star




A man in Indiana was jailed over the weekend after he was accused of reaching for his handgun instead of his Shazam app to end a dispute with his longtime friends over a Bruno Mars song.

Roger D. Washburn, 71, is facing a charge of battery after the Friday night incident at his home in Greenwood, Ind.

The investigation began when a man told officials from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office that he and another man were hanging out with Washburn on Friday night. The man told police that they have all been friends for 50 years.

The man said they were all talking when an argument broke out over a song and its artist. The man said the song they were debating was sung by Bruno Mars, but Washburn said that it wasn't.

When the man showed Washburn proof that it was indeed a Bruno Mars song, the argument grew more intense. He told police that they both stood up and continued to argue until Washburn pulled a gun on him.

The man said he responded to the brandished weapon by calling Washburn a "chicken (expletive)" and Washburn swung the weapon at him, striking the man in the face and arm.

The gun went off when Washburn struck the man, he told police. The victim said he took a swing at Washburn and missed, and the gun then went off a second time. No one was shot during the incident.



When asked why no one called police, the man said he and his other friend were shocked over what happened. They eventually decided to tell the police a few hours after it happened.

Police went to Washburn's home and he admitted to hitting his friend in the face with his .38 revolver, according to a police report. He was taken to the Johnson County Jail on suspicion of battery and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.

The police report does not say what Bruno Mars song the men were arguing about.

[deebakes]