Will Eaton

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Will Eaton, 32, of South Haven remains in Sumner County Jail accused of attempted murder in the first degree, a level one felony, after a shooting incident in South Haven on May 19.

The Sumner County District Judge set a $1 million bond. He was booked into custody at 3:10 a.m. Tuesday morning, after a lengthy standoff with officers with access to a long rifle, AR-style, with a scope. He allegedly shot at a vehicle at the 100 block of North Frederick in South Haven earlier in the evening, and struck three occupants inside. Two of the victims were struck with glass, causing injuries.

Sumner County District Court has released the affidavit to Sumner Newscow. It reads as follows:

“On May 19 deputies were dispatched to South Haven. As a white Honda van was driving west on Stuart Street, a male, later identified as Will Starritt Eaton, was lying on the ground outside with an AR-15 style firearm with a scope and shot at the vehicle.

The shot went through the windshield, and the glass from the windshield struck the driver and passenger. Multiple witnesses stated they saw him lying in the grass at the North Frederick South Haven address. The neighbor to the east of the address recognized the male as Will Eaton and saw him enter the house through the back door.

Deputies received multiple calls in the last 24 hours with the last call taken, Eaton was sending his ex-girlfriend threating messages.

He sent “I’m going have to kill Justin aren’t I.” He said she could send the police, then said he was going to get drunk. Then later sent “I’m gonna kill anyone who’s come to my house” and “I’m going kill. Sorry babe but I have guns.”

According to the arrest complaint, Eaton allegedly waited in a prone position with an AR-15 style rifle until he fired into an unknown Honda van traveling past his residence, causing injuries to the occupants.

He is also being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon by using an AR-15 rifle and criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle. In all, he faces three felony charges.

Eaton was initially taken into custody, accused of attempted second-degree murder. The county attorney’s office has since upgraded it to attempted murder in the first degree. The difference between the two charges is that the first degree includes premeditation with a specific intent to kill a victim. Second degree causes serious harm or death to a victim, but did not necessarily plan the act in advance.

A general order of discovery and scheduling pretrial motions was signed by both Sumner County Attorney Larry Marczynski and Eaton’s defense attorney Jess Hoeme. Basically, this is standard court proceeding used to reduce “boilerplate” motions that can bog down or obstruct the discovery process.

No motions for further court hearings have been made at this time.