One man is facing charges and another is hospitalized after an argument led to gunfire last night in northwest Iowa. Monona County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home in Mapleton around 9:20 p.m. and found 22-year-old Eric Franco had been shot.
Franco, who’s from Mapleton, was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators say Franco and 22-year-old Joshua Beam of Arion were drinking and began wrestling. The scuffle led to a heated argument and Beam allegedly pulled a large caliber handgun and fired several shots. One shot struck Franco.
Beam was arrested on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent and aggravated assault.
(Reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)