In the News

Jury finds Baldwin City man not guilty of burglary; hangs on battery charge

The Lawrence Journal-World
Friday, February 13, 2009

A Douglas County jury returned one verdict, but failed to reach another in the case of a Baldwin City man accused of shooting his neighbor.

At the conclusion of a five-day trial, jurors on Friday found Brian Pitts, 36, not guilty of aggravated burglary, but the jury was hung on the aggravated battery charge he faced.

Pitts was accused of shooting Daniel Sumner in the head. The shooting occurred Aug. 2 in the basement of Sumner's Baldwin City home. Police said multiple shots were fired and one of the bullet's grazed Sumner's scalp. He was flown from the scene by emergency helicopter to the Kansas University Hospital.

A spokeswoman for Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said the case will be tried again.

Pitts is scheduled to be back in court Thursday.