ALLSBORO — Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said a man shot Tuesday afternoon during an argument with his brother is improving at a Mississippi hospital.

Steve Murphy, 63, of Mount Mills Road, Barton, was awake, and investigators talked with him Wednesday, May said.

Investigators said Murphy’s brother, Eddie Murphy, 57, lives a few houses from where the shooting occurred. May said no charges have been filed yet against Eddie Murphy.

Steve Murphy was shot three times with a .22-caliber handgun. The shooting took place at the siblings’ mother’s house at 7230 Buddy Durham Road.

Murphy was flown from the scene to Northeast Mississippi Regional Medical Center in Tupelo.

“We discussed the case with the district attorney’s office (Wednesday), and the investigators plan on going back to Tupelo today to talk with him once again,” May said. “After that, a decision is likely to be made about charges.”

Authorities said the shooting was the result of an argument over the handling of their mother’s money. May said the mother is in a nursing home.

“Apparently, they had been arguing for some time, and it just escalated to the shooting Tuesday,” he said.

May said the shooting occurred at 1:06 p.m. inside the mother’s residence, about 2-3 miles south of U.S. 72.

Authorities said Steve Murphy had a derringer pistol, and Eddie Murphy had a .22-caliber pistol.

May said a female family member tried to stop the argument between the brothers and was grazed by one of the shots but refused medical treatment.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.