Rhea County man admits to accidentally shooting child

UPDATE:

RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Rhea County man admitted to shooting a seven-year-old boy, who died from his injuries.

A Rhea County Sheriff’s Office affidavit says that Chris’tion Jones admitted to accidentally discharging the gun. On January 14, Jones told authorities that he and the child were struggling over the Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun.

He then confessed to investigators to both pointing a gun at the boy’s head and firing it on January 19, the report says.

SEE PREVIOUS (Jan. 19):

Christon Jones / Rhea County Jail

RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Rhea County authorities arrested a man on Friday for the homicide of a child.

The Rhea County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Chris’tion Hamilton Jones on January 19.

The sheriff’s office said the shooting happened on Sunday, January 14.

They believe Jones is responsible for shooting and killing a seven-year-old boy.

Authorities charged Jones with criminal homicide and booked him into the Rhea County Jail. He is currently awaiting arraignment.

Sheriff Mike Neal says they cannot release further information at this time because the investigation is ongoing.