A Tennessee man is accused of firing at a family sledding in the snow, claiming they were on his property.
Benjamin Cook faces six counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Additional charges may be filed pending the outcome of the investigation.
Deputies were called to the 6300 block of Stony River Drive on Friday after receiving reports that a man had shot a family of six as they played outside in the snow, the sheriff's office said.
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Benjamin Cook is charged with six counts of aggravated assault. (Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)
Preliminary information from the scene indicates that the parents and their four children were walking down the street to go sledding down a nearby hill.
But around 11:30 a.m., the family said they heard gunshots coming from the direction of the home at the bottom of the hill near the 10400 block of Birchwood Pike. The mother said she observed snow flying up from the ground just a few feet from her 1-year-old son.
The parents immediately looked in the direction of the gunfire and yelled for the man, later identified as Cook, to stop shooting. The man claimed that his family was on his property, but the family responded that they were not on his property.
A man is accused of firing shots at a family sledding in the snow. (Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)
The family then packed up their belongings, returned home and reported the incident to authorities.
Deputies responded to the shooter's home and spoke with Cook. A neighbor also obtained a photo of Mr. Cook wearing the same clothes and carrying a black rifle in the woods.
Mr. Cook was subsequently arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault.
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The investigation also revealed that the family was not on Cook's property when he began shooting. (Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)
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The investigation also revealed that the family was not on Cook's property when he began shooting.
A search warrant was executed at Mr. Cook's home and several rifles were found inside.
