Shooting up your neighbor's house is a time-honored tradition in Encinitas

Some newer residents of Encinitas were surprised at yesterday's Hatfields & McCoys shooting on Herder Lane.

Old-timers know that's just another day in Encinitas.

Union-Trib, April 21, 2005:

A jury acquitted an Encinitas man yesterday of attempting to murder a neighbor by shooting into his home, but convicted him on charges of assault and firing his weapon.

James Craig Darling, 54, faces a sentence of about 10 years in prison, less than the 30 years he would have faced had he been convicted of all charges.

Darling shot into the Encinitas home of Gary Murphy, near Leucadia Avenue and North Coast Highway 101, early May 21. Detectives found at least five bullet holes on the property. Murphy and his adult son, Kyle, were home at the time and were not hurt. Murphy was able to give deputies a description of the van from which the shots were fired and a sheriff's deputy driving to the home found the van with Darling in the driver's seat.

Deputy Kelly Anderson testified Darling pulled out a gun and pointed it at Anderson's head. The deputy lurched backward and fell to the ground, firing his gun at the van as he fell.

Darling drove the van with Anderson and other officers pursuing in a high-speed chase that ended in Solana Beach, where Darling was arrested. A .45-caliber handgun was found in the van.

Darling also was convicted of shooting into an inhabited dwelling, shooting from a vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and evading arrest.

Gary Murphy is still a well-known Leucadian and active community member. Jim Darling? He's in a private prison in Red Rock, Arizona because California can't afford to incarcerate everyone under six-figure unionized prison guards. But Jim's getting near the end of that 10-year sentence, especially with a little good-time credit.