Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 2:31 pm

Domestic violence and aggravated assault charges were filed against a stepson shot by his stepfather during a fight early Thursday at their Rockvale home, sheriff’s detectives said.

Joseph Martin, 25, of Citadel Court suffered a gunshot wound to his chest from a small caliber handgun, Deputy Travis Perusse reported. He was treated and released from Middle Tennessee Medical Center.

Stepfather Larry Elder was accused of shooting Martin during a disagreement about Martin being unemployed and a woman calling him late at night, Perusse reported.

Detectives Steve Kohler and Bryant Gregory determined through their investigation Martin was the primary aggressor in the fight and lodged the charges against him.

Perusse reported the telephone awoke Elder and his wife, Janice, who is Martin’s mother. When Martin returned home a few minutes later, he and his stepfather got into an argument about the stepson needing to work.

“She saw Larry shoot her son in the upper torso,” Perusse reported.

Deputy Brian Wright responded to the emergency room and interviewed Martin who told him he was recently placed on probation for domestic assault of a woman. She kept calling his home before the shooting.

Martin and his stepfather argued about her calling the house until he heard one round fired but didn’t know he was hit until after he drove away from his home, Perusse reported. Detectives interviewed Elder and later charged Martin. A hearing is pending in General Sessions Court.