Tennessee Man Charged After Shooting at Family Sledding in Snow
A Tennessee man, Benjamin Cook, is facing six counts of aggravated assault after allegedly opening fire on a family sledding in the snow, claiming they were on his property. The incident, which took place in southern Tennessee, has led to a police investigation and the possibility of additional charges.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a man shooting at a family of six who were playing outside in the snow on Stoney River Drive. The parents and their four children had walked down the street to go sledding in their neighborhood when they heard gunshots coming from a nearby house.
The mother recounted how snow flew up just a few feet from her one-year-old son, prompting the family to look towards the house where the shots were coming from. They yelled at the man, identified as Cook, to stop shooting, but he claimed they were on his property despite their denial.
The family then left the area and reported the incident to authorities. Deputies visited Cook’s house, where they found several rifles inside. They also obtained images from a neighbor showing Cook walking through the woods with a black rifle slung across his back, leading to his arrest on aggravated assault charges.
Further investigation confirmed that the family was not on Cook’s property when the shooting occurred, raising concerns about his actions. The search warrant executed at his home revealed the presence of multiple rifles, adding to the seriousness of the situation.
