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Shots fired in direction of children leads to Carter man's arrest

ELIZABETHTON – A shot fired in the direction of two children on Monday afternoon has led to the arrest of a neighbor.

Larry Guinn Jr., 24, 161 Grace Lewis Road, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of marijuana possession.

The Carter County Sheriff's Department began its investigation of the incident shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, when deputies Richard Barnett and Derrick Hamm responded to 163 Grace Lewis Road on a complaint about a shot being fired. Sgt. Thomas Smith arrived a short time later.

Witnesses told the officers that Guinn had first thrown a Pepsi bottle at the 5-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy who were inside a fenced-in lot on their property. They said Guinn then yelled for the adults in the residence to come outside.

Smith said the adults were Michelle Hilton, Betty Derr and Becky Garland. They said as they came onto the porch Guinn pulled out a pistol and pointed the weapon in the direction of the children. He then fired one shot.

Smith said all three adults told him that after firing the shot Guinn said "I'm tired of the (expletive) kids and I'm going to go get a silencer and blow all your heads off."

After making the statement, they said Guinn got into a vehicle with his girlfriend, Heather Nicole Lewis, 24, 161 Grace Lewis Road, and drove away. Another resident of Guinn's home, Alan Estep, picked up the pistol and took it inside.

Smith said Lewis returned to the home later and he was able to discuss the incident with her. She told officers Guinn had thrown a stuffed animal at the children, not a bottle. She said the adults in the neighboring house then came out on the porch and threatened to call 911. She said at that time Guinn reached into the car for the gun and pointed the gun at the ground and fired a shot because it could not be unloaded by breaking it down.

During a search of the home, found the pistol under a mattress. Reports said it was unloaded but smelled as if it had recently been fired. While they were checking, the officers found a plastic bag of marijuana on a table in the living room.

Deputy David Ryan said the officers asked Lewis about the marijuana and she told them, "I guess it belongs to all of us, me, Larry and Alan." Lewis was then arrested on a charge of marijuana possession.

Smith said he found Guinn at the residence early Tuesday morning. He was arrested without incident and transported to the Carter County Jail. Both Guinn and Lewis are scheduled to answer the charges against them in Sessions Court on May 26.

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That is retarded. Get the rope.

W C Redux | 5/13/2009 - 1:44 PM - (Suggest Removal )

Talk about dumb crook news. Yeah, let's leave the baggie out for the nice police officers. Give him and her both life for pure stupidity. Shooting at kids, they are absolutely crazy too. Throw the book at them.

martin ferguson | 5/13/2009 - 8:59 AM - (Suggest Removal )

Geesh need some chlorine in the gene pool!!

Chuck Riley | 5/13/2009 - 8:43 AM - (Suggest Removal )

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