Knob Noster man working on yard shot by neighbor; arrest follows

June 21--KNOB NOSTER -- A man who covered his windows with disturbing signs about sex offenders and the FBI, walked about 100 yards east from his house and shot his former father-in-law at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, witnesses said minutes after the incident.

"The victim is on his way to the hospital and the suspect is on the way to jail," Police Chief Brian Kniskern said at the scene.

Neighbors identified the shooting victim as Jeff Harrington, 629 Valley View Drive, and the suspect as Phillip A. Busler, 36, 629 Jill Ann Drive, Knob Noster.

"It's been ongoing problems here but I didn't think it would be like this," Kniskern said.

The Sheriff's Office held Busler on a single charge, violating an order of protection. The court set a $10,000 bond.

Police information stated other charges may follow.

Kniskern could not be reached later for clarification regarding several questions, including Harrington's condition, the type of weapon used and whether Busler would undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

HISTORY OF PROBLEMS

The Harringtons' landlord, Ted Anderson, said problems have gone on for months between Harrington and Busler. Anderson said he talked with Harrington after one troubling incident.

"(Busler) had threatened him, come out in the yard ... (with) a shotgun," Anderson said while standing outside the Harrington house Saturday.

Harrington made several complaints to Knob Noster police about Busler's threats, Anderson said.

Regarding another incident, he said Busler had burned his ex-wife's clothes in the front yard.

"This was some crazy stuff," Anderson said. "They had put (Busler) in custody and took him in for mandatory observation, and now we're at this. It's a shame."

Harrington is a retired Air Force member who now works at Whiteman Air Force Base, Anderson said.

"He and his wife are church-goers; no problems whatsoever. They're trying to be active in the community," Anderson said, an later added, "They were definitely in fear for life."

The windows of Busler's house are covered with signs that make bizarre claims about child sexual abuse, the FBI and a psychiatric ward. They include, "The FBI filters stuff to sex offenders."

Busler has a history of inappropriate behavior, Anderson said.

"Hopefully he can get some help and get this stuff resolved," he said.

The situation involving Busler had been building for a while, the Andersons' next door neighbor, Wendy Booher, 45, said.

"(Busler) should have been locked away months ago," Booher said.

Tragedy seemed unavoidable, she said.

"I remember telling the police this winter -- when we called, because (Busler) would pace up and down the road -- that something bad's going to happen and unfortunately something did happen today -- to Jeff," Booher said.

WITNESSES

Booher's husband, Mark Booher, 48, said he ran a mower when he noticed his next-door neighbor, Harrington, pull up in a truck on Valley View Drive. The truck contained shrubs because Harrington planned yard work to improve an already well-maintained, tree-shaded yard.

"As I'm pushing the mower, I hear a pop, thinking it's a lawn mower backfire and I turn around," Booher said. "(Busler) is running toward (Anderson) with what appeared to be a shotgun."

While talking to a mail carrier, Wendy Booher said she heard gunfire while standing on her front porch, which overlooks Valley View Drive.

"I look up and I see Phil running with a shotgun, I see Jeff running to the back of the house yelling to lock the doors, and I see Phil go to their door, and I thought he was going to break the door down. He was banging on it so hard," she said.

Two grandchildren occupied the Anderson house during the incident.

"Those little boys were so scared," Wendy Booher said.

Mark Booher said he did not want to become collateral damage and called to his wife and the mail carrier to join him inside.

"The last thing I saw before I ran in the house ... Jeff is back here, in the back corner. He's trying to get in the house and he's yanking the door open," he said.

Busler followed Anderson to the back of the house, Mark Booher said.

Wendy Booher said Busler caught Anderson behind the house.

"I heard at least two more shots. I heard yelling," she said.

From his house, Mark Booher said, he saw Harrington lying on the west side of the lawn.

"Jeff's laying down there and Phil's already gone in the house. Then I see Phil exit. I don't see his gun anymore," Mark Booher said.

Wendy Booher said she does not know how, but Harrington's wife, Jeannie Harrington, wound up with Busler's weapon.

"She got the gun somehow away from Phil and she was running to another neighbor's house," Wendy Booher said.

The Boohers called police and an ambulance.

Busler left the scene.

Mark Booher said he and a neighbor ran to aid Harrington.

"He had a cut, I don't know if it was a graze, on his cheek. I saw a circle mark on his back. That's all I saw. There could have been more. He was coherent the whole time, was talking the whole time, trying to calm his family down, which shows what kind of guy he is," Mark Booher said. "He's calming his family down while he was going through this."

Mark Booher said he tried to keep Anderson comfortable while also being concerned that Busler could return. Wendy Booher said Busler did return.

"Phil walked over again, like he was coming back once everything was done," Wendy Booher said. "He didn't have a gun. ... He walked away and that was the last time I saw him."

Police arrested Busler without incident. They took him first to the police station and later to the Johnson County Jail.

Wendy Booher said she felt terrible for her neighbors.

"I wished it wouldn't have happened because those are good people," she said.

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