Reckless target practice near Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport allegedly sent neighbors and responding officers scrambling for cover Monday — and possibly one round into a nearby home.
The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office reports two men and a juvenile have been arrested in the incident. It occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. at 384 Beechwood Drive, adjacent to Highway 36.
Resident Christopher Delp, 21, and Joshua Quillen, 22, of 4105 Winfield Drive, were reportedly firing a .22-caliber rifle, 12-gauge shotgun and 9 mm pistol at a target in the yard. Police say they were accompanied by a male teenager who was also firing the weapons.
An arrest report says their target, which sat approximately six feet off the ground, was positioned so that the trio were firing toward Fort Henry Drive and Merman Road. Neighbors called to report the incident to police, with responding officers arriving to hear several rounds fired. The report says one neighbor and his son, 7, were observed running into their home to "avoid being shot."
As the deputies exited their squad cars to determine where the shots were coming from, more rounds were allegedly fired in their direction. They then re-entered their vehicles and proceeded to Delp's residence, detaining the trio and securing their weapons.
"It was entirely possible someone could have been hit," said SCSO Public Information Officer Leslie Earhart. "We could have had a really bad outcome."
All of the suspects were charged with four counts each of aggravated assault, with Delp and Quillen transported to the Sullivan County jail. The teenage boy was transported to a juvenile detention center.
Shortly after the incident, officers received a call from a nearby home on Fort Henry Drive. The resident showed officers a bullet hole that appeared to come from the outside of his home, with the round continuing through a bathroom and into a bedroom. Police say that incident is still under investigation.