First-degree murder and attempted criminal homicide charges were bound over to the Grundy County grand jury this week in the case of a man accused of shooting a woman dead and injuring two others in a house full of children in September 2018.
The charges against John Wesley Smith, 37, also include 11 counts of reckless endangerment and being a felon in possession of a firearm. They were bound over Monday after a preliminary hearing before General Sessions Judge Trey Anderson, according to 12th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Steve Strain.
Anderson also set Smith's bond at $1 million.
John Wesley Smith / Photo courtesy of Grundy County Sheriff's OfficeStrain said a TBI agent and Grundy County Sheriff's Office investigator testified at the hearing about Smith's statements to investigators describing what happened at a home on State Route 108 in Altamont on Sept. 23.
Smith is accused in the shooting death of his 32-year-old wife, Carolyn Nicole Powell, and the non-fatal shootings of her father, 50-year-old Jerone Powell, and 38-year-old Christopher Gary Hurst, a family friend. Smith was injured by a gunshot fired by Jerone Powell.
Strain said the proof presented Monday included testimony that Smith and his wife were in an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. At some point, Strain said, Smith drew a .380-caliber pistol and started firing, leaving Carolyn Powell with a grazing bullet wound on her arm and a second wound in her left shoulder that went through her body, killing her.
Smith fired more shots, striking and injuring Hurst, then went inside and returned with a shotgun and fired at Jerone Powell, seriously injuring him. Jerone Powell, meanwhile, had gotten a pistol and returned fire, grazing Smith's head and knocking him unconscious, Strain said.
Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum said the day after the shootings that six children - all under age 13 - were in the home at the time. None of them saw the shootings though the oldest child tried to render aid, he said. Carolyn Powell died at the scene.
Shrum said Smith was found unconscious with a gun still in his hand. He was booked into jail after he was treated for his wound.
The grand jury will get the case in July. Smith remains held on bond at the Grundy County Justice Center.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.