Free Press Staff

Burlington Free Press

Kenneth L. Clark, 71, of Hinesburg is being held without bail in connection with allegations he shot one of his daughters and punched another in the face during a dispute at his home late Thursday.

Clark, who has no previous court record, appeared distraught as he sat through his arraignment Friday at Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, looking down at the floor as his lawyer entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf to charges of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated domestic assault.

The shooting victim, Dawn Hall, was struck once in the stomach at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Clark's mobile home at 2476 Richmond Road in Hinesburg, near the intersection of Pond Brook Road. The bullet also struck one of her hands, the police said.

Hall was stable Friday at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, the authorities said; by Friday night, she was no longer a patient, a hospital spokeswoman said. Michelle Harrison, the daughter whom Clark is accused of punching, was treated for bruises at the hospital and released.

Harrison attended Clark's arraignment but did not make herself available for comment afterward.

According to a Vermont State Police affidavit, Hall said Clark became angry with her during a dispute over the behavior of Hall's teenage daughter.

"Ken grabbed (Hall) by the neck and hair and she was backed into some boxes," the affidavit stated, relating what Hall told police. "Ken told her 'I'm going to kill you.' She told him to calm down."

Hall said she thought Clark was going to leave the room. Instead, he pulled a .22 caliber revolver out of his pocket and pointed it at her, the affidavit stated.

"She grabbed the gun and was able to push it down," the affidavit continued. "Ken was able to raise the gun when he shot her." Hall told police she believed the shooting wasn't accidental.

The punching of Harrison, the other daughter, occurred moments later, police said.

Harrison told police that Clark had been angry with her regarding her purchase of a lottery ticket the night before. Clark struck her in the chest, face and eyes with his fist, the affidavit stated.

"Harrison said she fought back and got Ken into a headlock and informed him he was beat and to quit," the affidavit said. "Harrison said this is when he pulled a gun out and put it into her side."

Harrison said Clark "goaded" her to keep fighting him but she did not.

"Harrison stated she could not believe her father had hit her 'like a man' and that he was acting like a 'crazy man,'" the affidavit stated. "Harrison stated she had no idea Ken had shot her sister, Hall, before he attacked her."

Bonnie Clark, wife of Ken Clark, attended Friday's court hearing and sat separately from Harrison, her step-daughter, and the granddaughter. Hall, Harrison and the granddaughter were living at the Clark home at the time of Thursday's incident, a family relative told the Burlington Free Press.

Prior to the hearing, Bonnie Clark intimated to reporters that there was more to the incident than what the police were alleging and said she would have more to say after the arraignment.

Instead, after meeting with her husband's lawyer following the hearing, Bonnie Clark left the courthouse without acknowledging reporters' questions.

At the hearing, Judge James Crucitti ordered that Ken Clark undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The next hearing in Clark's case is scheduled for next Friday.

Contact Sam Hemingway at 660-1850 or shemingway@freepressmedia.com. Follow Sam on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SamuelHemingway.