Blacksburg, South Carolina

From the Gaffney Ledger of April 17, 2006

Business owner fires shot at burglary suspects

A property owner shot at two burglary suspects fleeing from his business, according to a report at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Two people were taken into custody about five hours later when they were spotted coming out of a wooded area near Tessner's Garage, said Cherokee County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Leigh Caldwell.

Eric Parker Lanier, 25, of Smyrna, and Wesley Scott Brazell, 18, of York, are each charged with petty larceny and remain at the Cherokee County Detention Center. Caldwell said more charges are pending in connection with the incident.

Billy Tessner, 58, of Blacksburg received a call just after 4 a.m. Friday from his alarm company reporting that the alarm at his business had been tripped. When he arrived at Tessner's Garage at 491 Moss' Crossing in Blacksburg he saw two people run to a gray Mazda, the report states. He told police whoever was driving the vehicle tried to run him over as they fled. Tessner fired two shots at the Mazda, striking the vehicle's radiator and left front tire.

The vehicle traveled about a mile down the road and stopped, the report stated. The bloodhound tracking team searched for the two individuals but was unable to locate them.

At 9:30 a.m. witnesses saw two people leaving a wooded area near Munchie's convenience store at Moss' Crossing and Highway 29, police said. Police arrested the two suspects and transported them to the Cherokee County Detention Center.

According to the report, five radiators were missing from the garage.