ELGIN — A pregnant mother is recovering at University of Tennessee Medical Center and a former boyfriend faces charges of attempted murder following a shooting incident near here Friday night.
Jerry W. Walker, 24, of Deer Lodge, is being held at the Scott County Justice Center in Huntsville and is charged with attempted first degree murder. He is under a $2.5 million bond.
Walker is accused of shooting 25-year-old Jade Sexton, a former girlfriend, in the face with a .22-caliber handgun.
The shooting incident allegedly occurred shortly before midnight Friday following a brief confrontation outside Sexton’s home on S.R. 52 in Elgin.
Sexton, who was said to be five-months pregnant, was transported by Scott County EMS to the helipad at nearby Mtn. People’s Medical Clinic, where she was airlifted by Lifestar to UT Medical Center. Her injuries required surgery Saturday, but a full recovery was expected.
The picture painted by an arrest warrant filed by Scott County Sheriff’s Department Detective Tommy Silcox is one of a jilted ex-boyfriend lying in wait outside the home for his former girlfriend’s return.
Walker, who was apprehended by authorities at his Morgan County home, allegedly told Det. Silcox and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Steve Vinsant that he had been dating Sexton “on and off” since February, but had last spoken to her five days earlier.
Allegedly, he had attempted to phone Sexton, who refused to take his calls.
On Friday night, Walker allegedly parked his vehicle on the side of Hwy. 52 and walked to Sexton’s home after spotting her vehicle at her mother’s residence nearby.
“While [Walker] was walking to the residence, Jade was pulling into her driveway and he told her he needed to talk to her,” an arrest warrant prepared by Det. Silcox said. “Jade told [him] she didn’t want to talk. [Walker] stated Jade said something and then he shot her one time with a .22-caliber handgun.”
Walker then allegedly returned to his truck and drove to his residence, where he “told his mother what he had done,” the warrant stated.
Walker was arraigned before Judge James L. (Jamie) Cotton, Jr., in Scott County General Sessions Court Monday morning. A preliminary hearing was tentatively scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday) but was expected to be postponed.
