Cherokee County deputies say he shot at them near a church
A Blacksburg man has been charged with attempted murder after Cherokee County deputies say he shot at them near a church.
Jesse Shane Owens, 31, of 633 Peeler Road, was charged with three counts of attempted murder after an incident at the Christian Fellowship Church in Blacksburg, Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said.
Mueller said in a statement deputies responded to the church at about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in reference to a man with a gun.
The deputies were told a man was on the roof, and they searched the perimeter of the building but didn’t find anything, Mueller stated.
As deputies searched, about 10 shots were fired in their direction, Mueller said.
No deputies were hit by any of the bullets.
Owens was found in a home about 100 yards away from the church. Mueller stated when deputies arrested him, he was taking off a bulletproof vest and was found to have several weapons in the house.
According to the sheriff, Owens told deputies he started shooting because he thought someone was there to rob him.
No deputy fired back, Mueller said.
A rifle, a shotgun, a pistol, the bulletproof vest and numerous ammunition magazines were taken from Owens’ home, Mueller said in the statement.
Along with the attempted murder charges, Owens was charged with wearing body armor during the commission of a violent crime, three counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful possession of a firearm.
He remained in the Cherokee County jail Friday afternoon.