Chattanooga: Son wanted in shooting of mother's boyfriend

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Just before 5 a.m. Monday, Tommy Poindexter had another domestic altercation with his girlfriend.

In the past, he beat her until her eyes were swollen shut, police records show.

This time, the outcome was different.

With at least five fresh gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder and legs, the 45-year-old Poindexter staggered across the street to a neighbor's house until police arrived.

He initially told police that his girlfriend, Angela Ponder, shot him during an argument. But investigators later learned that Ponder's son, Roderick Jones, 28, intervened on behalf of his mother.

Police said Poindexter was rushed to surgery at a local hospital and was listed in critical condition after surgery.

Warrants for domestic aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder were issued for Jones, according to police. No arrest had been made as of Monday afternoon.

Jones had another attempted first-degree murder charge dropped last month when he pleaded guilty to assault. He was accused of punching, kicking and throwing beer bottles as part of a group of about 15 men who were attacking 34-year-old Jason Winfield on April 20, 2010. He received credit for his time in jail awaiting trial, according to records.

On Monday afternoon, Angela Ponder exited a small brown-frame house at 114 Arlington Terrace, wearing sunglasses with overcast skies above, and entered the driver's side of a vehicle.

"I've got nothing to say," she said.

The argument on Monday began after Ponder returned home from visiting a female friend. As the argument between Ponder and Poindexter escalated, Jones intervened, police say. Jones and Poindexter began to argue about the treatment of Ponder before Jones reportedly opened fire.

But this is hardly the first time that Poindexter has gotten into trouble for beating Ponder.

Court records show that, at one point, Poindexter had a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on July 6, 2010, for a domestic assault charge involving Ponder.

Poindexter initially was arrested Oct. 11, 2009, after Chattanooga police officers responded to 4554 Oakland Ave., where Ponder said she was beaten and strangled.

Map

4554 Oakland Ave.

4554 Oakland Ave.

Ponder's eyes were swollen shut and redness and marks were observed on her face, ears and neck, according to an affidavit of complaint in an arrest report. She was taken to Parkridge Medical Center, according to the report.

As a part of the 2009 arrest, Poindexter was given a list of conditions upon his release from Hamilton County Jail, including no contact with Ponder.

On Oct. 15, 2009, he was rearrested for breaking the conditions.

On Nov. 5, 2009, he pleaded guilty to the domestic assault and was placed on probation when his 11-month, 29-day sentence at the Silverdale Detention Center was suspended for good behavior after he served 60 days.

County court records show Ponder never took out an order of protection on Poindexter.

Poindexter filed for a divorce from his wife on March 1, civil court records revealed.

Contact staff writer Beth Burger at bburger@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6406.