A long-standing neighbor dispute in West Springfield, Virginia, ended in deadly violence on March 3, 2020. Javon Prather, 24, a Specialist in the Maryland National Guard, was shot and killed on the 7700 block of Bedstraw Court after an argument with his next-door neighbor, 52-year-old Michael Hetle. The feud reportedly involved years of complaints over dog waste, trash and noise and had drawn involvement from the homeowners association and police.

Ring doorbell video released from Hetle’s home shows Hetle opening his door and firing seven shots at Prather; the first shots were at point-blank range, and Prather was struck in the back as he fled down the front steps. Prather was pronounced dead at the scene. The footage also shows Hetle pointing a gun at Prather’s wife and yelling at her. Testimony at trial included that Hetle used a racial epithet referring to Prather.

Hetle was arrested at the scene and tried on homicide and firearms charges. The defense said Hetle acted in self-defense; the prosecution described the shooting as an execution and relied on the video evidence. Does anyone have information about the years-long neighborhood dispute or witnessed interactions between these neighbors?