A Gunbarrel man accused of shooting his neighbor over a dispute about squirrel feeding last month has been ordered to stand trial on attempted murder and assault charges.

Jon Barbour appeared in Boulder District Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing, and county Judge David Archuleta found probable cause for him to stand trial on the charges.

Barbour, 59, is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and two violent crime sentencing enhancements.

Archuleta initially balked at binding over the attempted murder charge but did so after prosecutor Lisa Saccomano clarified a portion of the law regarding attempted murder.

Boulder County sheriff’s deputies arrested Barbour on May 12 after he called police to say he had shot his 46-year-old neighbor, Jeffrey Browning, in the buttocks. It was revealed on Thursday the gunshot wound was above the buttocks.

Police said the two had been feuding because Barbour had been feeding squirrels and pasted fliers explaining why on a mailbox, signed by “The Squirrel Guy” Jon Marc Barbour.

Sheriff’s office Detective Mark Spurgeon testified on Thursday that Barbour told police that he and Browning briefly exchanged words, and Browning was shot as the two struggled over the gun after Browning attacked him.

Spurgeon testified that Barbour told police Browning had knocked off his glasses during the fight, but police found them lying in the back of his truck in a way that suggested they had been placed there as if by someone preparing for a fight.

Browning, Spurgeon testified, told police that Barbour flashed the gun at him, and Browning closed in on Barbour to retrieve his dog because he was afraid Barbour was going to shoot him or the dog and was shot as he walked away.

Barbour’s .380 pistol jammed after one shot, and the trajectory of the bullet wound on Browning, according to prosecutors, appears to back up Browning’s version of the events.

Prosecutor Karen Peters said that both men have given clear statements, and the case will come down to whether or not it was self-defense on the part of Barbour.

Spurgeon testified that Browning did give slightly different versions of what happened — one at the scene and one at the hospital after the bullet had been surgically removed from him, specifically whether he came into physical contact with Barbour as he retrieved his dog.

Spurgeon added that police have so far not found anyone who actually witnessed the shooting, only people who were there in the immediate aftermath.

Barbour, who Spurgeon testified has a concealed carry permit, called police immediately after shooting Browning, and responders described Barbour as having a flat affect as he spoke with police. He said Barbour was cooperative with police.

Barbour is currently free on bond and due back in court in August.

John Bear: 303-473-1355, bearj@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/johnbearwithme