Man injured in shooting
A man was shot in the buttocks Monday in Chattanooga in a drive-by shooting.
Omerrieal Woods, 20, was taken to Erlanger hospital in a personal vehicle before police arrived, said Chattanooga police spokeswoman Rebecca Royval. His injury was not life threatening, she said.
The incident happened about 3:25 p.m. at 1913 Foust St., Royval said.
Police talked to witnesses, who said an older white vehicle with two or three men drove by and the men shot four or five times at the victim as he was walking down the street, Royval said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Police seeking robbery suspects
Dalton, Ga., police are investigating two armed robberies from the past two weeks that may be related.
The first robbery occurred about 9:50 p.m. on Nov. 12 at Taqueria Villa Juarez restaurant at 1103 E. Morris St., police spokesman Bruce Frazier said in a release. The robber showed a silver handgun and demanded money, Frazier said.
After being given money by an employee, the robber told employees not to call police immediately because a friend was watching the business, Frazier said. The robber then fled on foot.
The second robbery was at the El Mercandito restaurant at 101 E. Long St. on Nov. 19 about 7:30 p.m., Frazier said. The robber again showed a silver handgun and demanded money, then fled on foot.
In both cases, the suspect was described as a Hispanic male, between 5 foot 5 and 5 foot 9 and wearing a white handkerchief or bandanna to cover his face, Frazier said.
In the first robbery, employees told police he was wearing black shoes, black jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt.
In the second robbery, employees said the man was possibly in his mid- to late 20s, Frazier said.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective John Helton at 706-278-9085, ext. 143, or Detective Scott Murray at ext. 148.
Boy, 14, injured; man charged
Chattanooga police have arrested an 18-year-old man who said he accidentally shot a 14-year-old boy in the face.
Kemonti McDowell has been charged with reckless endangerment following the incident, according to police.
Police learned of the shooting when they were called to 2230 E. 25th St. about 11:45 a.m. Sunday.
McDowell told police that he “accidentally shot the juvenile while holding and looking at a gun.”
The 14-year-old was treated at Erlanger hospital for a “graze wound” to his face.
McDowell is in custody at the Hamilton County Jail on an $80,000 bond has a General Sessions Court appearance set for Dec. 7.
Lung illness, drug blamed in death
The Nov. 2 death of a UTC student probably stemmed from an inflammation of the lungs called acute bronchopneumonia, according to Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s report.
But methadone was a probable contributing factor in the death of 21-year-old Jeffrey Lang, the report says.
Lang was found dead on his bed by his roommate at UTC, according to the report.