By BOB GIBBINS
Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies arrested a local man this week in connection with a rural shooting incident. Blaine Allen Villines was arrested by Sheriff’s Deputy David Butts and other de- puties in the Briggs area. Vil- lines al -legedly fi -red shots into Tyler Richards’ PT Cruiser as he drove down a county road.
Undersheriff Jason Chennault spoke with Villines after his arrest. The suspect admitted he shot into the air from his porch but denied shooting at Richards or his vehicle.
Deputies found evidence where the vehicle was shot. One of the shots entered the back of the driver’s seat. Chennault retrieved a shotgun slug from the back of the seat.
The shooting occurred in the Stone Chapel area after Villines allegedly drove past a residence where Richards, Villines’ ex-wife and the ex-wife’s daughter were attending a party.
Reports state Richards is dating the ex-wife’s daughter. Villines is expected to be charged in district court with the shooting. He will be formally arraigned afterward.
