‘Like a running gun battle’

Four individuals, one of whom is a juvenile, were arrested Sunday afternoon following a drive-by shooting on Otter Slide Road near Wilderness Road.

In a Facebook Live video Monday afternoon, Sheriff A.J. Smith said that “a couple of vehicles in Eastpoint” exchanged gunfire just before 2 p.m.

“It was kind of like a running gun battle,” he said. 

The sheriff said the incident stemmed from ongoing conflicts between the individuals.

Arrested on charges shooting or throwing a missile into a dwelling, vehicle, building or aircraft were Eastpoint residents Brantly Kolton Richards, 18, Madison Lee Shiver, 20, and Gabriel Anthony Whitnauer, 21, who was also arrested on a charge of knowingly giving false information to a law enforcement officer.

The sheriff mentioned the name of a fourth person, Kaiden Faison, who he said was a juvenile charged with possession of a handgun by an underaged perosn.

“There will be some other individuals involved who will be charged,” said Smith. “We are sick of this. It’s not the first time there’s been conflict between these groups. Resulting to gun play is not going to be tolerated.

“We’re going to make some more arrests,” he said. “We’re not accustomed to shootings like that; we’re not going to become accustomed to that. Leave that to the cities.”

While no injuries were reported, one of the projectiles hit a trailer on the side of the road, he said.

“This is wrong, this is illegal and we’re not going to put up with it in Franklin County,” Smith said. “This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated and you will go to jail. We’ll have you on a wanted poster.

“Parents, take responsibility for your kids,” he said.