from: Greenfield Daily Reporter Online - Front
Man fires point-blank 3 times but misses intended victim
Friday, May 15, 2009 8:49 PM EDT
Attempted murder charges expected after incident in Charlottesville
By Noelle M. Steele
nsteele@greenfieldreporter.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE — A Henry County man faces an attempted murder charge after firing three bullets at his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend Thursday night.
Police say Bruce Carpenter, 26, was in a jealous rage when he pulled out a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun and fired at Mike Cate of Greenfield. Though the pair was within feet of one another, none of the bullets struck Cate.
The altercation began shortly after Carpenter, of Spiceland, showed up to a home in the first block of South East Street to confront Ashley Masters, who police say had been living with Carpenter but moved home after she broke up with him in recent weeks.
Masters stepped out onto the front porch to speak with Carpenter, leaving the couple’s two children, ages 2 and 3, inside with other family members. The couple began arguing, and a neighbor who heard the disturbance called 911.
Before police arrived, Masters went back into the house, and Carpenter retreated to his car, where police believe he grabbed a gun.
Masters’ stepfather, Robert White, and her boyfriend, Cate, 25, came out on the porch in an attempt to calm Carpenter, who by then was acting erratically, police said.
“He apparently made the statement he was going to kill someone and then kill himself,” said Detective Sgt. Jeff Rasche of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, who is investigating the case.
In the midst of the argument, Carpenter pulled the handgun from his waistband and fired three shots at Cate, none of which struck him. Cate grabbed the weapon and subdued Carpenter after a brief scuffle that ended in a neighbor’s yard across the street.
When investigators examined the scene, they found the bullets had penetrated the front door.
“It’s a miracle that nobody inside the home was struck,” Rasche said. “(The children) were in the front room right by the front door.”
Carpenter remains in Hancock County Jail. Formal charges, which could include criminal recklessness, pointing a firearm and possession of a firearm without a permit n in addition to attempted murder n are expected to be filed Monday, Rasche added.
Man fires point-blank 3 times but misses intended victim
Friday, May 15, 2009 8:49 PM EDT
Attempted murder charges expected after incident in Charlottesville
By Noelle M. Steele
nsteele@greenfieldreporter.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE — A Henry County man faces an attempted murder charge after firing three bullets at his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend Thursday night.
Police say Bruce Carpenter, 26, was in a jealous rage when he pulled out a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun and fired at Mike Cate of Greenfield. Though the pair was within feet of one another, none of the bullets struck Cate.
The altercation began shortly after Carpenter, of Spiceland, showed up to a home in the first block of South East Street to confront Ashley Masters, who police say had been living with Carpenter but moved home after she broke up with him in recent weeks.
Masters stepped out onto the front porch to speak with Carpenter, leaving the couple’s two children, ages 2 and 3, inside with other family members. The couple began arguing, and a neighbor who heard the disturbance called 911.
Before police arrived, Masters went back into the house, and Carpenter retreated to his car, where police believe he grabbed a gun.
Masters’ stepfather, Robert White, and her boyfriend, Cate, 25, came out on the porch in an attempt to calm Carpenter, who by then was acting erratically, police said.
“He apparently made the statement he was going to kill someone and then kill himself,” said Detective Sgt. Jeff Rasche of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, who is investigating the case.
In the midst of the argument, Carpenter pulled the handgun from his waistband and fired three shots at Cate, none of which struck him. Cate grabbed the weapon and subdued Carpenter after a brief scuffle that ended in a neighbor’s yard across the street.
When investigators examined the scene, they found the bullets had penetrated the front door.
“It’s a miracle that nobody inside the home was struck,” Rasche said. “(The children) were in the front room right by the front door.”
Carpenter remains in Hancock County Jail. Formal charges, which could include criminal recklessness, pointing a firearm and possession of a firearm without a permit n in addition to attempted murder n are expected to be filed Monday, Rasche added.
