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Aliens face deportation in shooting

By: Bill Grubb
Source: The Rogersville Review
05-24-2006

By Bill Grubb
Staff Writer | wgrubb@xtn.net

CHURCH HILL—Two men, charged with aggravated assault in connection with what officials called a drive-by shooting on Sunday, have been identified as illegal aliens and will eventually face deportation according to Church Hill Police Chief Mark Johnson.

The men, natives of Honduras, were identified as Nelson Enrigue Thompson, 25, 1000 Stonegate #50, Kingsport, and Edvar Sandobal, 26, Grizzle Top Mobile Home Park, Kingsport.

According to Johnson, at approximately 10:45 p.m. Sunday a male subject fired a shot gun three times at a West Lane Street residence which was occupied by 15 to 20 individuals.

Johnson said the two men fled the area in the Dodge Intrepid which was spotted and stopped by a Mount Carmel police officer on Carter’s Valley Road shortly after the incident. As a result of the traffic stop the driver, identified as Thompson, was arrested on several charges including DUI, no driver’s license, violation of proof of insurance and violation of the light law. Johnson said Sandobal was escorted back to the scene by Church Hill officer Chad Mosley and “was positively identified by several witnesses as the shooter,” Johnson said. Sandobal was also charged with public intoxication.

In addition to the misdemeanor charges, both men have also been charged with four counts of aggravated assault and are currently being held without bond at the Hawkins County Jail.

“Our investigation has revealed that both men are illegal aliens from Honduras,” Johnson said, adding that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has been contacted. “They (INS) will be placing detainers on both men and will initiate deportation upon completion of all legal actions in Hawkins County.” The chief also said both men are believed to be involved in “gang activity,” but he said he could not go into any details on that aspect of the case.

Johnson said the cooperation of the Mount Carmel Police Department and the neighbors in the area who stepped forward as witnesses helped his department quickly solve what he referred to as a drive-by shooting case.

“We don’t have drive-bys here,” Johnson said. “I will throw every resource we have at the problem and try to make sure we don’t have anymore.”