On Friday, January 10, 2025, Hamilton County deputies responded to a distressing report of an individual shooting at a family sledding on Stoney River Drive.
The family, which included four children, had gone sledding down a hill in their neighborhood around 11:30 a.m. When they were out playing in the snow, they heard several gunshots coming from a house located near the 10400 block of Birchwood Pike. The mother of the children reported seeing snow fly up near her one-year-old son, narrowly missing him.
In response, the parents yelled at a male individual to stop shooting. The man, later identified as Benjamin Cook, claimed the family was on his property. However, the family clarified they were not. They quickly gathered their belongings and children and returned home to call authorities.
Upon investigating the area, deputies spoke to Cook, who was located near the 10400 block of Birchwood Pike. Neighboring security footage showed Cook walking through the woods carrying a rifle. Based on this evidence, Cook was arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated assault.
A search warrant was executed at Cook’s residence, where several rifles were found. The investigation confirmed that the family had not been on Cook’s property during the incident.
Additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses.
