3 children entangled in shooting over Peoria custody battle

Three children became entangled in a violent custody battle when an argument triggered a shooting in Peoria on Thursday evening, according to police records.

Troy Daniel Payne, 25, is accused of shooting and critically injuring his estranged wife's boyfriend next to a minivan at Payne's home, near 83rd Avenue and Cactus Road. Two young children were in the minivan and one child was in the home at the time of the shooting, the records said.

Payne, his mother, his estranged wife and her boyfriend began arguing after a routine custody exchange, according to the records. After his arrest, Payne told investigators that he had served divorce papers on his wife earlier Thursday.

The four adults argued and pushed each other, attempting to gain control of the 1-year-old child, police said. Payne called 911 but then reportedly armed himself with his stepfather's assault rifle. According to the police records, Payne fired one round at the boyfriend, hitting him in the torso. Two of the children and their mother were less than 5 feet away from the bullet's path, according to the records.

Hospital staff said the victim suffered severe damage to his liver, stomach and lungs. He received 20 pints of blood and was in critical condition, the records said.

According to the records, Payne admitted to police that he knew nobody involved in the fight was in immediate danger and that he could've handled with situation without using a firearm.

Payne was booked into Maricopa County's Fourth Avenue Jail and was expected to be charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated assault. Because he fired shots within feet of his wife, his mother and the two young children, Payne will also face five counts of endangerment.

Bail was set at $150,000, and Maricopa County Superior Court ordered that Payne be placed under house arrest if he is released.