The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday charged a Meigs County man with criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder and aggravated child endangerment after a domestic incident erupted in a Georgetown, Tn. home on Tuesday, leaving the victim in critical condition.
Jeron Smith, 22, of 213 Bradley Lane, Georgetown, was charged this afternoon with attempting to kill his mother, 50-year-old Karen Neal.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and TBI were called to the Bradley Land residence after Smith hit his mother in the head with a hammer following an argument. The victim’s husband, John Neal, 58, arrived shortly after the incident to find Smith at the residence and the Neals’ five-year-old grandson in the yard holding a shotgun that Smith gave him. The child was present at the residence when the incident occurred.
John Neal retrieved a second shotgun from inside the residence and shot Smith, who fled on foot. Smith was later located by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and transported to Erlanger Hospital.
Smith was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and booked into the Meigs County Jail on $110,000 bond.
Ms. Neal is currently at Erlanger Hospital on life support.
TBI is investigating with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and working with the 9th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.