Two Cleveland, Tennessee, men are facing charges after an altercation led to gunshots, with stray bullets striking a nearby home and car.
Justin C. Baker, 37, and Brian K. Armstrong, 29, are each charged with attempted second-degree murder and reckless endangerment, according to records at the Bradley County Jail and police affidavits. Police were responding to a report of shots being fired between two vehicles Monday.
At 20th Street and Ridgeview Drive, a Cleveland police officer heard three gunshots as he approached the scene and allegedly saw Armstrong armed with a pistol standing behind a Mercedes-Benz that had crashed into a tree, according to an affidavit. Armstrong dropped the weapon when ordered to. Meanwhile, another officer stopped Baker’s Ford Bronco at 25th Street and Peerless Road and arrested him.
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The incident started at a convenience store on Green Drive, according to Baker’s statement to police, after Baker allegedly picked up a friend. Baker and his friend stopped at the store for some rolling papers, the affidavit said. Baker told police that when he came out of the store, the friend, whom he knew only by the initials “EDC,” pointed out the Mercedes-Benz with an alleged disparaging remark.
Baker and the friend then allegedly started driving around to look for the other vehicle, then parked “to smoke marijuana” when the Mercedes-Benz pulled in behind Baker’s Bronco, the affidavit said. Baker said the friend got out, argued and began a brief shoot-out with Armstrong before driving away.
Baker told police that his friend had fled into a nearby apartment complex, the affidavit said. The friend was not located or identified by police. It’s unclear whether the friend’s presence was confirmed.
Baker is being held without bond until an appearance in General Sessions Court, records show. A gunshot residue test was performed on him, but no results were noted.
Meanwhile, Armstrong declined to be interviewed and asked for a lawyer, the affidavit said. A gunshot residue test was performed on Armstrong, but no results were noted. He is free on a $100,000 bond.
Officers allegedly collected two 9 mm pistols and found spent 9 mm shell casings at the scene and inside the Bronco and Mercedes-Benz, as well as unfired rounds. Suspected drugs were also found in both vehicles, along with a tactical .556-caliber rifle allegedly taken from Armstrong’s Mercedes. Two other pistols were seized from Baker’s home during a search.
During the investigation, a resident who lived near the shooting scene told police he was backing out of his driveway when he heard gunshots and pulled back in, the affidavit said. The man saw that his car had two apparent bullet holes in it, one passing through the interior. Another resident near the shooting scene told police a bullet passed through the wall of his home, went through two bedrooms, one with a small child inside, passed through a television before lodging in an exterior wall.
No injuries were noted in the affidavit. Court officials said both men face upcoming dates in General Sessions Court on May 29. Neither of them has a lawyer on record.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.
