A 74-year-old man charged with homicide in connection with the shooting death of his girlfriend’s 34-year-old son was freed on bond Tuesday.
Chattanooga police arrested Alfred Copeland on Monday afternoon after receiving a call of a possible shooting at his 3805 Arrowrock Road home.
Police arrested Copeland on a charge of criminal homicide and his bond was set at $50,000, according to court records. He is scheduled for a Hamilton County General Sessions Court appearance before Judge Christine Mahn Sell on Monday.
About 5:30 p.m., Officer Jayevan Montgomery arrived at the home to find Rickey Shell on the kitchen floor with two gunshot wounds to his abdomen, according to the arrest report.
Shell was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary.
Shell’s mother, Helen Shell, 65, told police that she had been arguing with her son in the kitchen when Copeland came into the kitchen to intervene. Copeland and her son began arguing, she said, and Copeland “brandished his firearm and shot” him.
Officers found Copeland in an upstairs bedroom, where he gave them his .38-caliber Colt revolver.
Copeland told police that he heard Helen Shell arguing with her son in the kitchen and went downstairs. He asked Rickey Shell to leave several times, but Shell refused and continued yelling at him and Helen Shell, Copeland said.
Rickey Shell started walking toward him, so he “removed the revolver from his pocket and shot” Rickey Shell, who “doubled over but continued toward him,” Copeland said. Copeland shot him again, police said.
A family member at the Arrowrock Road residence declined to comment Tuesday afternoon. Neighbors said Copeland is a “nice man” who’d lived in the home for decades.
Hamilton County Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston said a criminal homicide charge is a broad category under Tennessee law that encompasses all homicide-related charges.
The grand jury typically narrows the charge to one of the following: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, vehicular homicide or reckless homicide, he said.
Records show two previous speeding violations but no other criminal history for Copeland in Hamilton County.
Rickey Shell had an extensive criminal history, which included multiple charges of theft, drugs, drinking, assault and weapons-related charges dating back to 1993. Helen Shell told police that her son had previously assaulted Copeland.
Contact staff writer Todd South at tsouth@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6347.