The case of two brothers accused of invading a home while a 14-year-old hid from them in a bedroom has been bound over to the grand jury.

Demetrius and Isaiah Joiner are both charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated assault in the wake of a May 30 home invasion, according to records. Authorities accuse the pair of shooting at the boy’s father while they fled from the scene.

Hamilton County Assistant District Attorney Rodney Strong said that “a lot of people tend to minimize burglary.”

“But these guys were armed and knew what they were doing,” Mr. Strong continued. “Burglars need to be taken very seriously.”

According to the complaint affidavit, the 14-year-old called his father, who was not home at the time, to tell him that two people were trying to get into their house at 7930 Orchard Drive.

The suspects eventually got into the home, the 14-year-old testified at a preliminary hearing in general sessions court Wednesday, then tried knock down the bedroom door where he was hiding and continuing to call for help.

The father testified that when he arrived home to find the suspects still there, he chased them in his own car to try to identify them as they sped away.

The suspects, however, shot at his car three times, the father testified. The father was not hurt, but one bullet did hit his vehicle, he said.

The Joiner brothers both are being held on $75,000 bonds.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Comments