Family sledding in neighborhood hears gunshots, sees man shooting at them, TN cops say
A Tennessee man was arrested after deputies say he shot at a family sledding in a neighborhood.
Benjamin Cook is charged with six counts of aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, six counts of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated child abuse, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said.
Attorney information for Cook was not available.
On Jan. 10, a couple took their four kids to go sledding at a hill in their neighborhood in Harrison, deputies said.
Around 11:30 a.m., the family heard gunshots coming from down the hill, deputies said. The mom said she saw snow flying up from the ground a few feet from where her 1-year-old son was.
The parents began yelling at a man down the hill, later identified as Cook, to stop shooting, the sheriff’s office said.
Cook said the family was on his property, but the family said they weren’t before leaving and calling authorities, according to deputies.
Investigators were able to obtain pictures from a neighbor that showed Cook walking through woods carrying a rifle. Authorities went to his home and found several rifles, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities also confirmed that the family was not on Cook’s property.
Harrison is about a 15-mile drive northeast of Chattanooga.
This story was originally published January 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Family sledding in neighborhood hears gunshots, sees man shooting at them, TN cops say."
