Fernando, a farmer fleeing from a bull that had gotten out o…
Fernando, a farmer fleeing from a bull that had gotten out of its pen, bolted for the nearest safety—the fence between the pen and the patch belonging to Madeline, the melon grower. Leaping over, Fernando landed on and shattered several melons. Hearing the melee, Madeline ran from a hiding place where she had been waiting to try to catch some children who had been stealing melons. Madeline pointed her shotgun, which was loaded with rock salt, and exclaimed, “Stop or I’ll shoot.” Just then two juvenile melon thieves decided to make their escape and ran from where they had been crouching. Madeline aimed her shotgun at them and prepared to fire but slipped, and the load of rock salt struck Fernando, whom Madeline had recognized and had not intended to hit.Has Madeline committed an assault against Fernando?