Woman Arrested for Filing a False Police Report and Child Neglect

Woman Arrested for Filing a False Police Report and Child Neglect during Shooting Investigation

Around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, Jackson police received a "shots fired" call in the 100 block of Belmont Ave. Officers searched the area and found numerous shell casings. Police discovered a bullet hole in the front door at 107 Belmont Ave. The resident, Elisa Gray, 42, told officers that she heard the gunshots but had no further knowledge about the incident.

Around 3:15 a.m., police received a call that a gunshot victim had arrived, by private vehicle, at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

Officers talked to a 14-year-old boy who had a gunshot wound to the left leg. He told police that he was visiting relatives at 107 Belmont, and he was inside the home when the bullet struck him in the leg.

Further investigation determined that Gray had knowledge that the boy was injured but told him to be quiet while the police were outside because she did not want to be evicted or disqualified from the Section 8 Housing program.

Police charged Gray with filing a false police report and child neglect. She is scheduled to be formally arraigned at 8 a.m. Friday in Jackson City Court.   Police also notified the Tennessee Department of Children Services about this incident.

The shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit at 731-425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 731-424-8477 (TIPS).