HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man accused of shooting deer from his vehicle in a Hendersonville neighborhood while intoxicated was arrested by Sumner County deputies Sunday night, according to officials.
James Boyce, 46, was arrested in connection to the incident shortly after the first call to law enforcement was received.
Just after midnight on Sunday, a resident in the area of Curtis Crossing and Riverwood Drive called authorities to report that they heard shots fired nearby. A large gray pickup truck reportedly stopped the vehicle and fired gunshots before continuing to drive again, and had repeated this several times, according to the caller. The caller reported about five to six rounds in total were fired from the truck.
According to court documents, a deputy patrolling the area saw a truck matching the caller’s description facing horizontally in the roadway before turning onto Walton Ferry Road. The driver reportedly turned into a subdivision and almost struck a parked vehicle, prompting the deputy to carry out a traffic stop.
Boyce was seated in the driver’s seat alongside a front-seat passenger. Court documents indicated a strong smell of intoxicants was present in the vehicle.
The men informed the deputy that there were weapons in the vehicle, including a handgun near Boyce’s knee in the center console. During a search, authorities found a 9mm Glock handgun, a .22 rifle and other weapons. The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office shared photos from the arrest on social media.
According to officials, Boyce was instructed to exit the vehicle, at which point he was discovered to have fresh blood on his shirt, pants, shoes and skin. Blood was also found on the back of the truck.
Out of precaution, the deputy retrieved the handgun from the center console and discovered four used shell casings for a .22 rifle in the driver’s side floorboard and one in the driver’s side door, according to court documents.
The truck passenger reportedly told law enforcement that the men went duck hunting early that morning, which officials claim did not explain the wet blood found on Boyce during the traffic stop.
Officials said while speaking with Boyce, deputies reported that he had a strong odor of intoxicants on his breath, slurred speech and watery, bloodshot eyes. Additionally, he refused to partake in a field sobriety test. Boyce was placed under arrest for driving under the influence.
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According to reports, Boyce refused to consent to a blood draw and Sumner County officials were required to apply for a search warrant. The warrant was granted shortly after and the blood draw was completed by nursing staff at Sumner County Jail just after 3:15 a.m.
Officers with the Hendersonville Police Department arrived at Boyce’s residence just after 3 a.m. and discovered three deer described as “warm and freshly killed” in court documents.
Boyce faces multiple charges including reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence.
Authorities reported that Boyce is a convicted felon previously charged with second-degree forgery in Alabama in 2005. Additionally, he has prior misdemeanor charges out of Alabama including reckless endangerment-assault.
The SCSO asked anyone with additional information about this incident to contact the Emergency Communications Center at 615-451-3838.
