An employee at the Food City in Rogersville was injured Saturday afternoon in what appears to be an accidental shooting. Around 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, 66 year old Rod E. Sizemore, Jr. was in a check out line at the grocery store, when he bent over to pick up some loose change. Witnesses told police that a weapon fell out of Sizemore's coat pocket when he bent over and discharged when it hit the floor. Police say Phillip Weems, Jr. was struck when the weapon discharged. Weems was transported to Holston Valley Hospital for treatment. Rogersville Police transported Sizemore to the police department for questioning, where Sizemore told them he had dropped a .38 Derringer that he had in his pocket when he bent over to pick up loose change. He stated that he heard a noise and saw the gun lying on the floor and then saw a boy lying on the floor. He told police he then picked up the gun, walked out of the store and to his car, where he stuck the gun under the drivers seat of his vehicle. Police watched surveillance video from the store and saw the victim fall to the floor. The video also showed another male and a female walking close by at the time Weems was shot, putting them in danger of serious bodily injury also.
Rod E. Sizemore Jr. was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, two counts of felony reckless endangerment, and carrying or possession of a weapon. Police say he did not have an active handgun permit. Sizemore was released from jail on a $500,000 bond, he is scheduled to appear in court on January 6.
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