A domestic dispute turned violent when a man allegedly fired shots into a Rockvale home, endangering the lives of his family members. Roger Whitefield faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault, after reportedly shooting at his daughter and her friend inside a bedroom of the family residence last Friday, Rutherford County authorities said.
In a chaotic scene that unfolded on April 12, "Roger Whitefield (allegedly) brandished a handgun and shot several rounds" into the room where his daughter Natasha Hill and her friend, identified as Jason Cuna, were located, according to Detective Lt. Steve Craig with Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement obtained by RCSO's Facebook page. Both Hill and Cuna reportedly escaped through a bedroom window to avoid harm.
The incident escalated when Whitefield also allegedly targeted his granddaughter’s boyfriend, who managed to take refuge in the upstairs portion of the Trotters Lane home. Responding to the emergency, law enforcement—including patrol deputies, negotiators, detectives, and SWAT Team members—safely removed the granddaughter and her boyfriend from the premises.
After hours of negotiation, SWAT operatives eventually apprehended Whitefield and transported him to a nearby hospital, detailed both by WKRN and by WSMV. Although the standoff ended without serious injuries to any of the family members or law enforcement personnel, the gravity of the situation prompted an extensive investigation by detectives, who processed the crime scene and obtained arrest warrants for Whitefield.
Charges against Whitefield include the attempted murder, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment, with the investigation still underway.
