Charges now filed on accidental shooting of 4-year-old

In a follow-up to a report of an accidental shooting incident of a 4-year-old at a Sugarland Lake home on Friday, April 4, the Blount County Sheriff’s Department has released that the parents, Cassandra Lutz and Alexander Corrie, have been charged with first degree reckless assault, chemical endangerment of a child, 10 counts of cruelty to animals, and six counts of failure to bury/burn livestock.

 According to the BCSO, deputies responded to UAB St. Vincent’s Blount Friday, April 4, when the parents transported the child, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm and leg, for treatment. The parents failed to contact law enforcement regarding the incident. 

 After responding to the Sugarland Lake residence, deputies obtained and executed a search warrant. During the investigation, deputies located numerous firearms that were unsecured, drug paraphenalia, suspected marijuana, 24 live snakes, six dead snakes, and a juvenile crocodile. The BCSO reported that the animals were not secured other than being in containers that were accessible to anyone who entered the residence. In addition, the home did not have running water and had no operational bathroom facilities.

 The Blount County Animal Control Officer was also on the scene last Friday to secure the animals. The Department of Human Resources was contacted as well. The victim, along with a sibling, were taken into protective custody.

 This case continues to be an active investigation and any further updates will be provided as they become available.