The suspect in a Gunbarrel shooting that reportedly started over his habit of giving “pounds” of peanuts to squirrels said the feeding was a way of communing with the spirits of his deceased parents, according to a letter he posted for his neighbors.

The letter, dated May 8 -— which was sent to the Daily Camera by a neighbor and confirmed by other residents -— was signed by “The Squirrel Guy” Jon Marc Barbour. The letter starts off by thanking people who were supportive of his feeding the squirrels.

“Firstly, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to those who have supported me in my communing with the spirits of my deceased parents for the last year,” Barbour wrote. “My parents were great animal lovers and have shown themselves to me through the squirrels in the area.”

But the letter goes on to say that the “haters” in the neighborhood had resorted to calling police and animal control on him and spread “innuendo” and “lies,” to get him to stop.

“Given the current toxic atmosphere created by these few individuals, Susan (his wife) and I can no longer continue to enjoy the park that we pay monthly fees to support,” Barbour wrote. “If there is any continued harassment, slander, bullying or character assassination of myself or my partner it will be handled through appropriate civil and/or criminal processes.”

According to neighbors, Barbour would leave “pounds” of peanuts around the entire Willowbrook neighborhood, which alarmed residents concerned about children with nut allergies and diseases.

The letter reportedly was at the center of the dispute that left Barbour, 59, facing attempted murder and first-degree assault charges and his neighbor with a gunshot to his buttocks.

According to an arrest affidavit, Barbour called 911 at 3:36 p.m. Thursday and told dispatchers he had shot his neighbor, identified as Jeffrey Browning, after an argument in the 6200 block of Willow Lane.

A deputy responded and placed a cooperative Barbour in handcuffs and removed a gun from his holster.

Barbour and Browning told deputies they got into an argument over the fliers Thursday while Browning was walking his dog, with each man accusing the other of being “white trash,” according to the affidavit.

Barbour told deputies that Browning then hit him in the head, and that he shot Browning while the two were on the ground struggling.

But Browning told investigators that he was walking away from Barbour, and was about 10 feet away when he was shot.

Browning suffered a single gunshot wound to his buttocks, and was taken to Boulder Community Health for treatment. Barbour also was taken to the hospital to be treated for what deputies described as a “bump” on his head.

Boulder Community Health officials said Browning was in fair condition Friday. Repeated calls to Browning’s room were met with a busy signal.

Barbour could not be reached for comment on Saturday. He is free on $50,000 bond, but as a condition of his release had to surrender his firearms and will not be allowed to live in the Willowbrook community because it would place him in close proximity to the victim and witnesses.

Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars