Local man with gun shot by Greene deputy

by April Taylor Record Editor
Published: May 22, 2008

A Greene County man was shot in the arm on Tuesday, May 13, following a stand off with Greene County deputies who were responding to a 911 call.
Jonithan Tracy Mullins, 33, of Ruckersville, suffered non life-threatening injuries as a result. He faces charges of attempted capital murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, based on information released by Virginia State Police.
According to police records, the shooting occurred around 6:30pm last Tuesday at Mullins’ residence in Ruckersville. Greene County deputies had responded to a 911 call of an armed male at 11924 Spotswood Trail.
“Mullins was threatening harm to himself,” said Virginia State Police Sgt. David O. Cooper. “The deputies attempted to negotiate with Mullins to disarm. He aggressively approached the officer while armed and did not comply with the deputy’s instructions to disarm.”
In describing the incident, Greene County Sheriff Scott Haas said that numerous shots were fired by Mullins “from the area of his porch.”
According to Haas, Mullins “came in and out of his dwelling firing shots towards the deputies and in the direction of other residences.”
“The suspect left the porch and advanced toward the deputies with the gun in his hand,” said Haas. “Numerous commands were made for him to drop the weapon. When the suspect neared the deputies, he raised the gun toward the deputies and one round was fired by the deputy.”
Mullins was shot and wounded. No deputies were injured. 
The suspect was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center for non life-threatening injuries. He was arrested by Virginia State Police Special Agent Jon Cromer of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI). Mullins currently is being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange.
The BCI Field Office Police Shooting Investigation Team is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. The investigation was requested by Sheriff Haas and is still ongoing at this time, said Cooper.
The deputy who shot Mullins, Corporal Joseph Hogsten, is currently on paid administrative leave, said Haas. 
For safety reasons, portions of U.S. 33 were closed for several hours on Tuesday evening during the incident