Grand jury indicts local in rifle firing

James Bailey
James Bailey

A Texarkana man accused of shooting a rifle at his neighbor in late March was indicted Thursday in Bowie County on a charge of deadly conduct.

Texarkana, Texas, police were called March 26 to the 1200 block of West Fifth Street by a man who reported being shot at by his neighbor, 55-year-old James Bailey, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. As an officer approached Bailey's home, he noticed that the glass on the porch door was shattered and that glass littered the walkway and yard.

The officer also observed a large-caliber rifle casing on the porch's top step. The officer also reported seeing Bailey attempting to use a set of keys to unlock the door. However, the officer noticed the door was ajar and not locked, as Bailey walked into the house.

Officer Scott Lillis ordered Bailey to stop and grabbed his arm in an attempt to handcuff him. Bailey allegedly struggled with Lillis, who was soon joined by another officer. After a tussle with the officers on the porch, Bailey was cuffed and placed in a patrol car.

Bailey's neighbor told police he had been sitting on his porch having a beer when Bailey came out and fired approximately four shots at him. The neighbor and his son, who had just pulled up at the house, ran around the house, crouched and called police.

"(The neighbor) stated that James (Bailey) is pretty paranoid and is always accusing him of messing with his daughter," the affidavit states. "(The neighbor) stated that James thinks he had his daughter hidden in his residence. (The neighbor) stated that he does not know James' daughter, has not met her, and that she was not at the residence."

The neighbor reported being struck with debris from one of the gunshots. Officer's photographed a bullet strike on the corner of the neighbor's house believed to have been caused by the gunfire.

Police confiscated a 12-gauge shotgun, two rifles and ammunition from the house and collected a number of shell casings.

If convicted of deadly conduct, Bailey faces two to 10 years in prison. He is expected to appear for arraignment in June before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart.

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