Ashe Mountain Times

A Tennessee grand jury has returned attempted murder indictments for three men for their alleged roles in a targeted shooting of two former Ashe County residents last year in Laurel Bloomery, Tenn.

Johnson County Sheriff Mike Reece said 58-year-old James Hugus of Raleigh, 39-year-old Chad Collins of Wilkesboro, and 33-year-old Robert Lee Miller of Purlear are facing charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and robbery, criminal trespassing, possession of a firearm in commission of a robbery, two counts of attempted first degree murder and vandalism.

A fourth suspect, Larry Thomas Greer, of Jefferson, was arrested last year in connection to the case.

The charges stem from a Feb. 22, 2011, shooting at the home of Arvil and Margaret Clark, formerly of Ashe County, at 680 Sugar Creek Road in Laurel Bloomery.

According to sheriff's reports, the Clarks were sleeping in their bed when a total of 22 shots filled their bedroom, wounding Arvil Clark with six gunshot wounds and Margaret Clark with four. None of the injuries were life threatening, according to reports at that time.

Reece said the shooting was the culmination of three previous trips the men made to the Clarks' residence.

The first incident occurred on Feb. 13, 2010, when the men, dressed in police officer uniforms and carrying fake badges, entered the home and tied the couple up before ransacking the residence while looking for drugs and money. Two rifles were stolen from that incident, one of which was used in last year's shooting, said Reece.

Then, on March 7, 2010, Arvil Clark was inside his home when he saw in his yard the same three men that previously visited his home.

Clark told authorities he shot Collins before he could reach the residence. Through their investigation, authorities were able to confirm that Collins was treated for a gunshot wound in the shoulder the next day at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Authorities believe the men's final visit to the Clark's home was in retribution for shooting Collins.

Reece said the rifle used in the shooting was later confiscated at the residence of Collins' ex-wife in Raleigh.

In addition to these charges, the three men are also facing other charges in Ashe County, where they remain in custody, for kidnapping and burglary in a string of home invasions in the High Country.

After facing North Carolina charges, the men will be extradited to Tennessee.

Reece said that Miller had rented two storage units in Raleigh to house their fake police attire along with fake search warrants the three men used to gain entry into the homes of unsuspecting residents in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Miller had actually applied for a police officer's job in Raleigh, said Reece.

“They know how the law works,” sad Reece.

Reece said the investigation into the shooting and other home invasions in the High Country required cooperation across state lines between multiple sheriffs' offices.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Department has listed Collins' bond at $345,000; Miller at $415,000; and Hugus at $338,000.