SPEARS
By William Moore
Daily Journal
TUPELO – A Saltillo man is facing five years in prison for shooting out the window of a car with its lights on bright.
Austin Spears, 20, of Drive 1632, Saltillo, was formally charged with shooting into a motor vehicle Monday morning. He was later released from the Lee County adult Jail after posting a $3,500 bond.
According to Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson, Spears and the two men detained at the same time are facing a host of misdemeanor in connection with their Saturday night activities.
“The three individuals left a birthday party Saturday,” Johnson said. “They made a stop and geared up with a sling shot, a BB gun and a pellet rifle. They started riding around shooting at street lights but that apparently was not exciting enough. Then they decided to shoot at houses and cars.”
One home in the North Ridge subdivision was targeted. A window in a 15-year-old girl’s bedroom was shot out around 11:30 p.m. A short time later, a mother and her three children were driving near the Garden Park subdivision when the driver’s window was shot out.
Based on the witness description, a deputy stopped a black Chevy pickup around 12:30 Sunday morning on County Road 461, just west of Saltillo. The three men, ages 19-20 from the Saltillo area, were detained and questioned.
“These are three kids who had never been in trouble,” Johnson said. “They decided to pull some stupid prank, but the prank went too far and ended up endangering lives.
“There was some indication that alcohol may have been involved.”
While the other two men were released, they are still facing charges, possibly felonies. Johnson is working with District Attorney John Weddle to see if a BB gun qualifies for the felony charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling. They could also be charged with felony malicious mischief if the total damages exceeds $1,000.
The sheriff refuted reports on social media that the shootings were drug- or gang-related.
“These were totally random,” Johnson said. “The lady in the car was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They claimed the car had its lights on bright, so they shot it.”
william.moore@journalinc.com