Two men — one from Batesville and the other from Cave City — were arrested Saturday afternoon after apparently shooting across the White River from the Locust Grove side, according to authorities.
Deputies from the Independence County Sheriff’s Department were called Nov. 24 after two witnesses saw three men firing guns from the Locust Grove side of Lock 2, shooting across the river. The witnesses also said the three went into the woods prior to authorities arriving. The witnesses also told deputies they feared being hit by bullets because they were fishing in the river from a boat and told authorities that others on the Bethesda side of the river left the area, afraid of being hit by a bullet.
Deputies found the suspects, 23-year-old Juan Fernando Williams of Cave City and 22-year-old Leonel Flores of Batesville, near the edge of the river in the woodline. Both raised their hands as authorities arrived.
A “pat down” of both subjects found a .40 caliber handgun in Flores’ front pocket. The deputies also confiscated an Anderson Manufacturing AR-l5 rifle and a magazine for the rifle.
Williams, who is on felony probation, said he was not shooting, but had just brought Flores to the area to do some practice shooting, according to authorities.
Deputies were told the third suspect had run from the area in an unknown direction before they arrived.
Both Williams and Flores were taken into custody. The charges they face include: possession of a firearm by a certain person (previously convicted felon); furnishing a handgun or a prohibited weapon to a felon; and aggravated assault.
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