Hixson man arrested for attempting to kill girlfriend, girlfriend’s brother

David J. Smith, Hamilton County Jail

HIXSON, Tenn. (WDEF) — A man is behind bars after a domestic altercation that resulted in him shooting his ex-girlfriend’s brother.

According to a Hamilton County affidavit, Chattanooga Police arrested 43-year-old David J. Smith after the incident on Sunday, September 17.

Smith and his ex-girlfriend’s child was there when the shooting happened. He told officers that his parents had been arguing earlier in the day.

Then, the affidavit says that just before 3 a.m., Smith grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and was holding a samurai sword. The document reveals that Smith was accusing her of cheating on him. He reportedly told her that “if she’s not going to be with him, then she’s not going to be with anyone.”

The woman’s brother then intervened in the domestic dispute. He arrived with a handgun, and then Smith threw the woman to the ground, the report said. She told police she was unsure of the sequence of events following this.

Smith and her brother were fighting and, somehow, Smith got ahold of the handgun. Smith then shot the woman’s brother in the head, according to the affidavit.

Smith now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and aggravated burglary.

Officers booked him into the Hamilton County Jail on Monday, online records show.

The brother’s family says he is still alive and underwent brain surgery.