Man claims self defense in teen's shooting

Dec. 11– Authorities are investigating a 10:30 p.m. shooting Thursday at the James Price residence at 105 Francis Way in Hardin County.

Sheriff Sammy Davidson did not respond to calls from The Courier by late afternoon Friday, but Price, 62, said he shot a teenage male with a .410 gauge shotgun.

"He was gonna beat me up ‘cause I’m crippled," he said. "It’s self defense just like I told (Sheriff’s) Investigator Mike Fielder and the TBI agent that come out here."

While the complaint card at the Central Dispatch office identifies the person shot as Paige Stricklin, Price said his first name is Cade, and said he is 18 or 19 years old.

"I don’t believe there’s going to be any charges at this time," said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Mehr of the Jackson office.

Once the investigation is complete, the results will be given to the district attorney to determine whether charges are filed against either party, he said.

According to Price, who said his niece is married to Sheriff Davidson, Stricklin and several other young people had been at his house.

"This wasn’t no wild party," he said.

Price said Stricklin left the residence and when he returned threatened to "beat the hell" out of him.

He said as Stricklin approached he reached over from his chair, grabbed a shotgun and fired, aiming for the right shoulder but also hitting the teen’s neck.

Mehr had no information on Stricklin’s condition, but said he is in a Jackson hospital.

"It wasn’t no accident. I meant to do what I meant to do," said Price, but "I’m sitting here suffering because I had to do it."