An argument over a damaged set of drums escalated and led to the Sunday night shooting of a Ferriday, La., man, police said Monday.

Richard C. Paul Jr. was in stable condition at Natchez Community Hospital’s intensive care unit Monday afternoon recovering from one .40-caliber gunshot wound to the stomach.

Police say that Paul, 28, and an acquaintance, Jerry Cupit, 50, of 320 Main St., began arguing inside the Under-the-Hill Saloon on Silver Street.

&uot;Evidently there had been an earlier argument over some musical equipment,&uot; Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff said. &uot;They’d gotten into an argument about damage done to a set of drums.&uot;

Although the argument began inside the bar, the dispute continued in front of the bar as the two left the building.

&uot;(Cupit) got up and left and then Paul was leaving,&uot;&160;Huff said. &uot;When Jerry saw Paul, he stopped and got out of his vehicle. They had words and (Cupit) shot him.&uot;

Huff wouldn’t say whether either of the two men were intoxicated when the shooting occurred.

Cupit was arrested Sunday and charged with aggravated assault. He was released Monday on $10,000 bond.

Police found a .40-caliber pistol in Cupit’s possession when he was arrested late Sunday.