Two Putnam County teenagers — one of whom was taken into custody with some help from a drone — are facing attempted murder charges following a Saturday shooting at a Jackson County trailer park.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Putnam County teenagers — one of whom was taken into custody with some help from a drone — are facing attempted murder charges following a Saturday shooting at a Jackson County trailer park.
According to an arrest affidavit, 19-year-old Elijah Meek was the front seat passenger in a car that drove to a trailer park along Evergreen Lane in Gainesboro. Meek reportedly admitted to hanging out the window and firing a 9mm at least twice at a trailer with eight people inside on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Per the affidavit, Meek said a 17-year-old in the back seat also shot at the trailer.
After the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department identified multiple suspects living in Putnam County while investigating the shooting, Putnam County detectives said they interviewed a witness on Tuesday, Sept. 24 who confirmed two shooters were involved. This information led to another trailer on Anderson Lane, where the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team blew the door and made entry.
News 2 obtained footage from the drone hovering over the trailer and over law enforcement as they blew the front door and moved inside. Then, the drone took the lead, floating past SWAT team members while searching each room for possible suspects.
“The inside drone is much smaller, much more maneuverable. We can actually see what doors are closed and where potential hiding suspects may be; we can look for weapons. There’s a lot of things we can do before we ever get inside,” Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris told News 2 in a previous interview about the use of drones as crimefighting tools.
When the coast was clear, two people surrendered from a rear bedroom. Authorities later discovered this duo had nothing to do with the crime, so they were not charged.
Investigators said Meek was found hiding nearby. Law enforcement also recovered a 9mm pistol at the Putnam County property, which Meek admitted he owned and used to shoot at the trailer in Jackson County, according to an affidavit.
Jackson County court officials told News 2 that Meek is being charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and eight counts of reckless endangerment with a firearm. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reported Meek was being held at the Jackson County Jail ahead of his arraignment at the Jackson County General Sessions Court on Thursday, Sept. 26.
In addition, authorities said the 17-year-old suspect was taken into custody at his Cookeville home. A pistol that the teen allegedly used in Saturday’s shooting was discovered at the residence. Per an affidavit, the minor claimed he owned the gun, even though law enforcement determined it had been stolen from Sparta.
Law enforcement said the 17-year-old was being held at the Putnam County Juvenile Detention Center without bond for attempted first-degree murder and reckless endangerment. His court date was also set for Thursday.
No additional details have been released about this ongoing investigation.