VANCLEAVE – A Jackson County man will appear in court today on charges he shot his stepson in the chest during an argument. Jason Keith Powell, 40, was arrested on Aug. 9 after deputies responded to his residence in the 17000 block of Spring Lake Drive in the Lake O’ Pines community.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said an emergency call came in about 3 p.m. Wednesday, and responders found Powell’s 20-year old stepson with a gunshot wound just inside the door. Byrd would not identify the victim, but said he was airlifted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center.
Family members said the victim underwent surgery and was reportedly in stable condition.
The Sun Herald reported that two of Powell’s stepsons, including the victim, came to his Spring Lake Drive residence to pick up some of their belongings when they reportedly got into a verbal argument with Powell.
The Sun Herald further said when Powell and his wife, the mother of the two men, asked them to leave, they tried to physically assault Powell and that’s when he allegedly grabbed a .22 caliber rifle and fired striking the 20-year old in the chest.
Byrd said Powell and the victim had a volatile history and “they didn’t care too much for each other,” he told The Mississippi Press.
A .22 caliber rifle was recovered at the scene and Powell was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault.
Byrd said Powell’s bail amount would be set in court on Thursday. He remains at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center.
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