Steven Swafford knew his girlfriend was headed toward a confrontation with her next door neighbors, but he didn’t know it would end with his being shot three times.

But that’s what happened the night of Oct. 14, 2001, in the 1200 block of Bison Court in Baldwin, Douglas County Assistant Dist. Atty. Dan Dunbar told a jury Wednesday.

“He was amazed that he’d been shot  then he got shot again,” Dunbar said.

Dunbar outlined the events of that night as the trial for the shooting suspect, Stephen Meeker, 34, Baldwin, began before an eight-man, four-woman jury. Swafford is expected to testify during a trial that will probably last the rest of the week.

Meeker is charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and attempted aggravated battery.

Upset about a neighborhood dispute that began with an argument among children, Kerry Chalmers confronted her neighbor, Erin Meeker, Dunbar said.

Chalmers demanded that Erin Meeker  Stephen Meeker’s wife  stop making derogatory comments about Chalmers’ children, Dunbar said. The confrontation took place at the Meekers’ front door.

After that confrontation, Chalmers started to walk away but was then confronted by Stephen Meeker, who came running out the door “buck naked” carrying a pistol, Dunbar said.

Swafford, 31, Lawrence, saw the gunman and feared for his girlfriend’s life, Dunbar said. Swafford ran toward his girlfriend.

“He was amazed to see a naked man standing there pointing a gun at his girlfriend’s head,” Dunbar said.

Swafford yelled at Meeker, and then Meeker turned, pointed the gun at Swafford and shot him three times, Dunbar said. Swafford suffered wounds to his right hand, left elbow and left hip, Dunbar said.

The first Baldwin police officers to arrive described a chaotic scene. Officer Charles Woolsoncroft, who lives about a block away, was off-duty but was notified of the shooting by someone banging on his front door. He grabbed his bulletproof vest and gun and ran to the area, he testified.

The on-duty officer, Chuck Hensley, arrived minutes later. They said Meeker had been talking with police and sheriff dispatchers by phone and came out and surrendered after they arrived.

Meeker’s attorney, Jim Rumsey, told the jury his client feared for his own life and the lives of his family when he picked up the gun.

“This is a case of a lady next door who was out of control,” Rumsey said.

Stephen Meeker had been taking a shower when he learned that Chalmers had “threatened to kill” Erin Meeker, Rumsey said. Chalmers had entered the house yelling threats, Rumsey said.

Stephen Meeker went outside the front door and demanded that Chalmers quit threatening his family, Rumsey said. Meeker then saw Swafford running toward him and ordered him to halt at least twice before shooting, Rumsey said.

“He was defending his home as well as his life,” Rumsey said.

The trial continues today before Judge Jack Murphy.