ATHENS, Tenn. – A hearing has been set for Aug. 19 for a Cleveland, Tenn., man charged in the shooting death of his friend’s boyfriend.
Tracy Carter, 38, is charged with second-degree murder, according to the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office. He is free on $25,000 bond, McMinn County Detective Gary Wilson said.
Carter is accused of killing Josh Powell, 21, on July 24, by shooting him once in the abdomen, Wilson said.
Tara Mead, Powell’s second cousin, said she was surprised Carter was given bond on second-degree murder charges.
“The bottom line is that somebody’s dead who doesn’t have to be,” she said. “Somebody’s life ended way, way, way too early.”
According to Wilson, Carter was at the home of Stephanie Baker on County Road 48 when Powell showed up and the two men began to fight. When shots were fired, Powell was shot in the abdomen and Baker was wounded by a bullet that grazed her arm, he said.
Carter was the only one with a gun, Wilson said.
The sheriff’s office said Powell and Baker were romantically involved but had broken up. But Baker said on her Facebook page Tuesday that she and Powell were still together.
“My boyfriend was killed in my home by another guy who wasn’t supposed to be here,” she wrote. “Everyone is blaming me and threatening me. No matter what they do, they can’t hurt me more than I already hurt. No physical pain could be worse.”
Baker did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
Ray Powell, the grandfather who raised Josh Powell, said he won’t comment until he speaks with the district attorney.
“I think my family deserves to know the truth,” Mead said. “I can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through.”