UPDATE: Attempted Murder Charges Filed in Mt. Tabor Rd. Shooting in Rutherford County

Sep 09, 2013 at 03:45 pm by bryan


Investigators filed an attempted murder charge Monday against a suspect accused of shooting a woman Sunday afternoon at her Mt. Tabor Road home, a Rutherford County Sheriff’s detective said.

Suspect James Russell (right, bottom is previous mugshot), 35, of Spring Street in Murfreesboro, was charged with attempted homicide by Detective Jamin Humphress. Russell and co-defendant Bradley Benefield (right, top), 25, of Lee Lane were charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. More charges are expected.
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Russell was charged with shooting victim Rachel Orman, 22, of Mt. Tabor Road off U.S. Highway 41 South (Manchester Highway). She was shot with a shotgun outside her home. She was treated and released from Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital Sunday night.

Detective Capt. David Hailey said more charges are pending.

“Both were involved in the robbery and shooting,” Capt. Hailey said.

After the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office initiated a search for the suspects on the ground with sheriff’s deputies and Murfreesboro Police and by air with a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter. Detectives worked for 17 straight hours on the investigation until both suspects were located.Humphress said the motive is undetermined. Orman and the suspects were acquaintances.

Sheriff’s Felony Arrest Tactical Team members and other deputies located Benefield about 7:30 p.m. Sunday inside his neighbor’s garage.

FAST deputies captured Russell about 7:30 a.m. Monday near Compton Road. Sheriff Arnold told WGNS News…

Sheriff Arnold thanked Murfreesboro Police, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Emergency Medical Services and the Emergency Management Agency for their assistance in capturing the suspects and providing support.

Russell was being held on $75,000 bond while Benefield was held on $30,000 bond at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. Hearings are set Oct. 16 in General Sessions Court. “I want to thank the dedicated men and women of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office for their commitment for working around the clock to make sure these suspects were quickly apprehended.”

Sheriff Arnold thanked Murfreesboro Police, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Emergency Medical Services and the Emergency Management Agency for their help in helping the Sheriff’s Office.

Photo Below: Sheriff Robert Arnold watches as K-9 Sgt. Lee Young and K-9 Deputy Mike Hoekstra comfort K-9 Eli who collapsed in Sunday’s heat while tracking a suspect accused of shooting a woman.

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