A New Tazewell man shot his stepson in self-defense last week according to police reports.

The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on Smith Road on reports that someone had been shot at the residence.

When Sgt. Ted Brindle and Deputy Phillip Stubblefield arrived on scene, they saw a man, Jimmy Wayne Edens, 27, walking out the front door onto the deck. Officers noticed that Edens had a towel wrapped around his forearm that appeared to have blood on it.

Edens stated to officers that his stepfather, Alfred Bell, had shot him and he was still inside the home. Officers then entered the home where they found Edens mother, Jodie Bell walking down the hallway.

According to the report, Mr. Bell stated to the officers that he was unarmed and the pistol was lying in the seat of his wheelchair. Mr. Bell was located in his bedroom, sitting on his bed, unarmed. The officers were able to locate the pistol and then secured it for evidence.

Once Sgt. Brindle and Deputy Stubblefield secured the scene, paramedics with Claiborne County EMS arrived on scene and transported Edens from the home to the University of Tennessee for treatment.

The officers remained on scene to continue their investigation and discovered that the mother, Jodie Bell, had also been a victim in the incident.

Sgt. Brindle reported that it was discovered through the course of the investigation that Edens had been arguing with his mother, at which time he began physically assaulting her.

Mr. Bell was in his bedroom when the assault began and could hear his wife screaming. The report further states that Mr. Bell got into his wheelchair to go and see what was happening and entered the living room where he observed his wife being assaulted by Edens.

Mr. Bell yelled for him to stop and at that point, Edens came toward him and struck him across the face and Mr. Bell attempted to push him away but the defendant came at him again and continued assaulting him.

Mr. Bell pulled a .38 caliber revolver from under the seat of his wheelchair and fired a shot striking the defendant in the forearm.

Captain David Honeycutt of the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene to investigate and collect evidence. They obtained statements from Alfred Bell and then transported all evidence to the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Brindle and Captain Honeycutt traveled to the University of Tennessee where they met with Edens, who refused to cooperate with them, which included refusing his Miranda Rights, refused to give a statement and answer any questions.

It was determined that the defendant did commit the offense of domestic assault on both his mother and stepfather and that Mr. Bell was acting in a manner of self-defense of both himself and his wife when he shot and wounded Edens.

Edens was booked into the Claiborne County Jail and released on a $1,000 bond. He will appear in court later this month on the charge of domestic assault.