News Release

September 1, 2016

The Waverly Police Department responded to a call of gunshots being fired on Parkwood Drive in Waverly on August 31, 2016, at approximately 8 p.m.  Responding officers found two female victims who had been violently assaulted by suspect Stephen Jerese Turner, 28, of Waverly.  They were treated for their injuries at Three Rivers Hospital and released.  Turner is the ex-boyfriend of one of the victims and the victim had an active order of protection against Turner.  He also had an outstanding arrest warrant for violating the order of protection.

The girlfriend and her friend had returned to the apartment to retrieve personal items under the belief that Turner was not there.  Turner was concealed in the apartment and attacked the victims when they entered.  They ran out of the apartment and were assaulted in the front yard.  During the assault, Turner fired several shots from a handgun at the victims as they attempted to get away.  Neither victim was struck by the gunfire.  He fled back into the apartment when neighbors dialed 911.

Initial reports was that he may still be in the apartment when officers arrived.  The area was secured and neighboring apartments were evacuated.  The Waverly Police Department Special Operations Team was called to the scene and were able to determine that Turner had fled out the back door before officers arrived.  The Waverly Police K9 Team followed a track to the Waverly Country Club golf course nearby.

Waverly Police Officers took Turner into custody shortly after midnight after he broke into a vacant house approximately a mile away on Hwy 13 in Waverly.  The house was owned by members of Turner’s family and no one else was present in the home.   He was taken into custody without incident and the gun believed to have been involved in the assault was recovered.  Turner was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault and Violation of an Order of Protection.  Outstanding warrants for Violation of an Order of Protection and Violation of Probation were also served.  He is housed in the Humphreys County Jail on a $160,500.00 bond.  Officers from the TN Highway Patrol and Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the initial incident.

Chief of Police Grant Gillespie said, “This was a violent domestic assault by a suspect who twice ignored an order of protection.  We are fortunate that the victims were not critically injured.”  Detectives are continuing to investigate and additional charges may be filed.

Booking photo of Stephen J. Turner: