Armed UFO watcher chased after driver he thought was about to commit drive-by shooting

Just as he was enjoying an afternoon of watching a UFO in the sky over Tennessee, a man was forced to jump in his car with a loaded shotgun and chase after a stranger in self-defence. At least that is the story that a 20-year-old Murfreesboro man told officers after being arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment and aggravated assault on Monday.

“The suspect told Officer Jody Johnson that he was sitting outside his house watching a UFO in the sky when a vehicle pulled into his driveway, and he thought the driver was about to do a drive-by shooting,” said Officer Jacob Lamb. “He then grabbed his shotgun, got into his vehicle, and chased after the vehicle in question,” Lamb said.



His explanation came as complete shock for the other driver, another Murfreesboro resident who first suspected the man was driving drunk or on drugs. “(The driver) observed a (man in a) green truck swerving in his lane, almost striking him,” Lamb said. “He thought (the man) was driving drunk, so he called 911. The (man) pointed a shotgun at him.”

Fortunately for all the parties involved, Sgt. Jim Wyatt was nearby and responded to the scene before anyone could get hurt. “Wyatt responded to the scene first and detained the suspect,” Lamb said, adding the UFO watcher was then taken into custody and transported to the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged accordingly. The man has since been released on an $8,000 bond while he awaits a preliminary hearing in the case.