Witness to Gibson County Shooting Speaks
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GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. – James Mitchell is stunned after one of his friends is shot dead and another is charged with murder. “To happen right here in my house, a loss of two friends, it was a pitiful thing,” Mitchell said. Tuesday night, Mitchell said he was playing dominoes and drinking with his friends James Cannon, Jerry Heaver, and Heavner’s father. He said it was a normal night until emotions ran high. “This whole thing had nothing to do with a dominoes game,” Mitchell said. “It was Mr. Cannon cursing at everyone, being belligerent, making his threats. We decided to break the game up. It’d just gone too far.” Mitchell said Heavner walked his dad out and then returned to the home. As he was walking through the front door, Mitchell said Cannon jumped out of his chair and that is when the shooting took place. “Mr. Cannon jumps up out of the chair and heads towards him, threatening him with his hands in his pocket,” Mitchell said. “Mr. Heavner reacted, protecting himself, and shot him.” Heavner is charged with first degree murder and is being held in the Gibson County Correctional Complex on $700,000 bond. Mitchell said losing one friend of more than 20 years is tough, but potentially losing both makes it even worse. “I’ve lost a good friend Mr. Cannon, but Mr. Heavner deserves justice,” Mitchell said. “He had no choice in this bad thing that happened. He was doing nothing but protecting himself.” The Gibson County Sheriff’s Department said they are not currently investigating the shooting as self defense.
