Justin SheppardAn argument led to the Dec. 22 shooting off Interstate 24 at the Fourth Avenue exit that left one man injured, court records show.
Justin Sheppard, 26, is accused of shooting 30-year-old Malcom Blessingreen after Blessingreen wouldn’t let Sheppard borrow his vehicle, records show.
At the scene, Blessingreen told the Times Free Press he was driving when he was shot from a passing vehicle. Police corrected that information the next day, saying Blessingreen was in fact shot by a passenger in his own vehicle.
Court records show Blessingreen told police he exited the interstate when the argument began, but when it intensified, he decided he wanted Sheppard out of his vehicle.
But Sheppard wouldn’t get out, so Blessingreen tried to pull him out, he told police. That is when Sheppard shot him.
Blessingreen told police he stumbled away and fell in a grassy area, and Sheppard stood over him pointing a gun.
Sheppard was taken to the Hamilton County Jail and is facing charges of aggravated assault. His bond was set at $50,000.
Sheppard has a lengthy arrest record in Hamilton County dating back to 2010, according to court records. His charges range from aggravated burglary and domestic assault to public intoxication and some drug-related offenses.
The shooting was the city’s second in a string of six over the past five days, including a fatal shooting on Christmas Day.
Kevin Daniel, 20, was shot and killed in an alleged personal dispute.
So far this year, the city has seen 77 non-fatal shootings and 23 homicides. By this time last year, there had been 81 and 34.
Contact staff writer Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327 with tips or story ideas. Follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.
A Chattanooga man, pictured left, was shot in the hand while exiting Interstate 24 Saturday evening.