A man who was shot in the face during a hail of bullets near Sandy's Mini Market on Glass Street in East Chattanooga on Oct. 13 testified on Monday that he was able to get off several shots after being hit.
Thomas Williams was wearing a mask over the lower portion of his face as he testified in General Sessions Court. He said he was in the hospital for two weeks and sees a doctor every Monday.
He said he is slated to have surgery on Tuesday in which a portion of his leg will be placed in his chin.
Charges against Prandell Antonio Haynes were bound to the Grand Jury. Haynes, 26, of 413 Friar Road, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault, unlawfully carrying a weapon, and reckless endangerment.
Police said Haynes and Marquel Morris fired up to 20 shots in the incident.
The victim said after being hit he reached over and got a pink handgun that belonged to a woman who had just gotten out of the car with her three-year-old daughter. He said he got off 4-5 shots in the vicinity of the gunmen.
The woman said Haynes had stolen a gun from her and was angry that she prosecuted him for it.
She testified there was an earlier run-in with Haynes and Morris at Sandy's. She said at that time the pair had backed off, noting that the child was with them.
She said in the Oct. 13 incident they said the child would not stop them this time.
The woman said Williams had gotten out of the car to talk to a friend when the pair came up. She said they started to drive away, but bullets began to kick up in gravel coming from an alley.
She said they went a short distance away and stopped as she called 911. However, she said the pair caught up to them and continued firing.
She said they drove off again and she and the girl got out at the nearby market.
She said she learned later that Thomas Williams had been hit.
The woman, who said both Haynes and Morris fired shots during the incident, picked both of them out of photo lineups.
Both have extensive criminal records.