BULLS GAP — An 86-year-old Hawkins County woman was able to get one shot off from a pistol Friday before a female home intruder got away with her purse, check card and jewelry.
But the shot missed its target and the intruder got away with the pistol as well.
The Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office is now asking for help in identifying the female intruder.
Around 4:30 p.m. Friday the HCSO responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint made by Louise Berry Howard, 86, 1525 Hwy 66 South, Bulls Gap.
Deputy Kenny Lunsford Jr. was on the phone with Howard about that complaint when she stated she had heard a noise.
Howard then laid the phone down and Lunsford reportedly heard her screaming talking to someone.
“When Deputies arrived at her residence, they found her front door had been forced open and a large metal wrench was found in a bathroom floor,” Sheriff Ronnie Lawson said.
Howard told deputies a white female, about 5'8"-5'10" tall, skinny build with long dark hair and round face had broken out a window of her front door, reached in and unlocked the door and entered her house.
Lawson added, “The unknown female met Mrs. Howard at her bedroom door and told her she wasn't going to hurt her and wanted her money, and began to pull her through the hallway toward the kitchen. Mrs. Howard pulled a pistol and try to shoot the female attacker, when the attacker tried to take the pistol from her, the weapon discharged missing the attacker. (The suspect) took the pistol and Mrs. Howard's purse which contained bank card, checkbook and rings and fled the residence, leaving in red car.”
Howard suffered a minor injury to her right hand but refused medical attention.
Anyone with an information about this case, please contact the Hawkins Co. Sheriff's Office 423-272-4848.