Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons said that his deputies responded to the report of a shooting at around 2:30 p.m. on Friday in the Long Hollow section of Lee Co. at the intersection of State Routes 640 and 643. They found 22-year-old Steven Rutledge Jr. dead at the scene with one shot to the lower body. His wife, Tracie Rutledge, 33, was shot in the head. She was taken to Lee Regional Medical Center, where she was then flown to Holston Valley Medical Center. She is reported to be in critical condition.
Parsons said both victims were inside their Dodge pickup when at least five shots from a .44 caliber pistol were fired into the vehicle.
Three men have been charged in connection with the shooting and were arraigned in Lee County General District Court Monday morning. Larry Smith, 40, of Route 2 in Jonesville is charged with first degree murder. Johnny Roberts, 44, of Route 4 in Jonesville and Timothy James Obsorne, 44, of Route 3 in Pennington were both charged with aiding and abetting the alleged murder.
This incident follows a shooting that happened last week in Rose Hill. Charles James Givens, 40, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with first degree murder after he turned himself in for shooting Home Health Nurse Misty Leann Garrett of Jonesville, Va., at his residence in Rose Hill, according to the sheriff’s office. Givens was arraigned on Monday, as well.
The security presence inside the courtroom was high on Monday, with roughly 13 sheriff deputies, detectives, and even Sheriff Parsons himself spotted around the room. The three accused men were formally charged in the court by Judge Larry Lewis, who presided over the General District Court. They are scheduled, along with Givens, for a preliminary hearing on March 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.
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