Man charged with attempted murder and criminal recklessness
May 31, 2023 at 12:59 p.m.
Joseph K. Steele, 37, of Laurel, has been charged with Attempted Murder, a Level 1 Felony, and Criminal Recklessness, a Level 5 Felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit of Deputy Arin Bowers, Franklin County Sheriff's Department Deputies initially responded to a "shots fired" call during the early morning hours of Sunday, May 21. Based on the investigation details described in Bowers' affidavit, deputies learned a disturbance occurred at the Sanes Creek Road location earlier that morning. About one and a half hours later, the suspect returned and fired multiple shots into the occupied residence. Four individuals were in the residence at the time. Deputies later located Steele and took him into custody. In the front seat of his vehicle, in plain view, deputies discovered one sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun with all serial numbers removed; as a result of a vehicle search, deputies also located two semi-automatic handgun magazines. Additionally, on the driver's side sidestep of Joseph's truck, one spent 20 gauge hull was discovered.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Department emphasized this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the public.
No one was injured as a result of the shots being fired.
Steele's initial hearing information is not yet available. If convicted of an (L1) Felony, Steele could face between 20 and 40 years of imprisonment.
Steele is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Joseph K. Steele, 37, of Laurel, has been charged with Attempted Murder, a Level 1 Felony, and Criminal Recklessness, a Level 5 Felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit of Deputy Arin Bowers, Franklin County Sheriff's Department Deputies initially responded to a "shots fired" call during the early morning hours of Sunday, May 21. Based on the investigation details described in Bowers' affidavit, deputies learned a disturbance occurred at the Sanes Creek Road location earlier that morning. About one and a half hours later, the suspect returned and fired multiple shots into the occupied residence. Four individuals were in the residence at the time. Deputies later located Steele and took him into custody. In the front seat of his vehicle, in plain view, deputies discovered one sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun with all serial numbers removed; as a result of a vehicle search, deputies also located two semi-automatic handgun magazines. Additionally, on the driver's side sidestep of Joseph's truck, one spent 20 gauge hull was discovered.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Department emphasized this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the public.
No one was injured as a result of the shots being fired.
Steele's initial hearing information is not yet available. If convicted of an (L1) Felony, Steele could face between 20 and 40 years of imprisonment.
Steele is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.