Two bullet holes in the windshield were a cause of concern for James Spann, whose grandson suffered injuries after a fight with another juvenile.

A grand jury will determine whether an argument between two Collinsville teenagers over the weekend warrants criminal charges.

A juvenile allegedly shot at the older teen, injuring the 18-year-old’s hand and piercing his vehicle with bullet holes.

The older teen confronted a younger teen around 3:30 p.m. Friday at his home in the 8700 block of Highway 19 North. The younger teen “had been writing dirty messages” to the 18-year-old’s girlfriend, according to James Spann, who identified himself as the grandfather of the older teen. 

Spann said the juvenile shot at his 18-year-old grandson multiple times, using two different firearms, striking the windshield three times and the truck six additional times. 

“He shot across Highway 19,” Spann said. “I don’t know why they haven’t arrested him yet. Even if he’s a juvenile.”

Spann said his grandson would need the services of an orthopedic surgeon to remove the bullet fragments from his hand.

Spann pointed out bullet holes along the passenger side of the car and three shots to the windshield, including two that pierced the windshield directly in front of the steering wheel.

“He’s lucky to be alive,” Spann said. “(The juvenile) was shooting to kill him.”

However, Mississippi has one of the broadest “Castle Doctrine” protections in the country, which describes situations when deadly force may be used in a “justifiable homicide.”

“A person who uses defensive force shall be presumed to have reasonably feared imminent death or great bodily harm,” the law states. “A person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engagned in unlawful activity shall have no duty to retreat before using deadly force.”

In an opinion over a disputed murder charge in Hinds County, Bennie Beal v. the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Court of Appeals clarified, “The purpose of the castle doctrine is to allow a person to stand his ground against an intruder who is unlawfully trying to enter that person’s home, the vehicle the person is occupying, or the person’s business or place of employment.”

Ward Calhoun, chief deputy of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, confirmed that bullet holes had been found, though he said they initially appeared to come from one weapon. 

“Because of the circumstances surrounding the shooting we’re going to present the case to a grand jury who will make a decision as to whether it is appropriate or not to file charges,” Calhoun said. 

Spann said he thought the castle doctrine wouldn’t apply since the juvenile shot at his grandson across Highway 19, a road that has a near-constant stream of traffic. Spann said he wondered if other vehicles had been hit by the juvenile’s bullets but hadn’t reported it to the sheriff’s department. 

“He was defending himself all right,” Spann said. “But he might have killed someone else.”