Man wields gun at kids’ b-day party

A Rockwood man was arrested Wednesday evening by Rockwood police after pulling a .22-caliber rifle at a children’s party on Chamberlain Avenue.

James Rodney Wilson, 50, of 820 N. Chamberlain Ave., was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Police took him into custody at his home, which was next door to the party.

“He was arguing with an adult male at the birthday party,” Rockwood Police Chief Bill Stinnett said.

Police reports said officers were dispatched after receiving calls that a neighbor pointed a gun at children at the party and that the gun was right by a child’s face.

Information that the suspect also said he was going to kill an adult partygoer was also relayed to responding officers.

Several witnesses told police Wilson had pointed a gun at them.

“There were several children that witnessed this, as well as two adults,” reports said.

Reports by Officer Randy Keahey and Sgt. Jason Haliburton said they went to Wilson’s home, knocked several times and identified themselves with no response. However, they reported hearing a man inside cursing police and requested support from the Roane County Sheriff Office.

After an hour of attempting contact, authorities finally detained Wilson and recovered a loaded .22-caliber rifle-type gun which had been modified to have a short barrel and short stock.

Reports said Wilson was taken to Rockwood Police Department. Initially asking to write a statement, he began crying when placed under arrest and admitted to using the gun.