A Smithville man who suffered gunshot wounds after pointing a rifle at deputies in 2013 pled guilty to two counts of attempted aggravated assault.
Randy Gerald Petty, 58, was given three years on each charge, to run consecutively for a total of six years. A sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 11 to determine how the sentence will be carried out.
The DeKalb County Grand Jury named Petty in a sealed indictment in April, 2014. He was initially charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder.
Petty was shot several times after Detective Jeremy Taylor and Deputy Erik Russell were dispatched to investigate a 911 call reporting shots being fired at 255 Petty Road.
“At 11:53 p.m. dispatch got a call of multiple gunshots and yelling in the area of Adcock Cemetery Road,” Sheriff Patrick Ray said after the incident. “A deputy and detective responded to the call. The detective spoke with the complainant and a member of Petty's family, and the complainant reported hearing yelling and gunshots coming from the area of Petty Road.
“The detective was informed by a family member of Petty that he had told someone that if law enforcement officers pulled up in his driveway, he would shoot them,” Ray continued.
“The deputy and detective drove to Petty Road and stopped near Petty's house. As they got out of their vehicles and prepared to walk up the road toward his home, Petty came out from behind some trees in a neighbor's yard.
“Petty drew a gun on the officers. The deputy and detective then drew their weapons and fired multiple shots. Petty was wounded in the shooting and transported by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. He was later taken by ground ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The officers involved in the shooting were not hurt,” Ray said.
The TBI began an investigation into the incident District Attorney General Randy York’s request the day of the shooting.
The indictment against Petty read: "On or about May 23, 2013, Petty intentionally and with premeditation did attempt to kill Jeremy Taylor and Erik Russell, constituting the offense of attempted murder in the first degree.”
