Man charged with shooting a woman with a flare gun

Preston Drury

ATHENS, Tennessee (WDEF) – A man is in jail charged with firing a flare gun at a woman.

The incident happened in Athens last week.

The two homeless people were in an argument on the street near a sporting goods store.

The woman says Preston Drury fired the flare straight at her, hitting her in the chest.

She suffered burns to her upper chest, and facial injuries from the shrapnel.

An Athens police officer says Drury admitted to firing the shot, saying she had threatened him with a pocketknife.

But they found no evidence that that was true.

Drury has been charged aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and carrying an unlawful weapon.

Officers found a handgun in his possession and he is not allowed to carry because of previous convictions.