A Statesville man has been arrested and charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Drug Charges after a deadly shooting Monday night. On Monday November 7th, Deputies and Detectives responded to 132 Treeline Drive in Statesville to a reported shooting.
The initial calls came in at approximately 9:45pm. The callers reported a woman had been shot inside a residence. One of the 911 callers was the victim’s boyfriend who told Telecommunications that he had accidentally shot his girlfriend. Deputies arrived on scene along with Emergency Medical Personnel and found the female victim in the bedroom floor with a gunshot wound. Deputies and First Responders attempted CPR on the victim, but were unsuccessful. The victim, Cortney Smith, was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.
Deputies secured the scene and requested additional personnel including Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators. Crime Scene investigators began to process the scene for evidence while Detectives spoke with witnesses who were in the home when the incident occurred and others who weren’t present at the time.
During the interview two people inside the home described the hours leading up to the shooting as normal. Witnesses stated that in the moments just before the shot was heard, the couple could be heard laughing. Statements indicate that immediately after the shot, Tenor exited the room told the others in the home he accidently shot the victim, and called 911.
Detectives interviewed Jason Rashon Tenor, the boyfriend of the victim, who cooperated with Investigators and gave a full statement. In his statement he admitted that he was handling a firearm that had been left there a few days prior by a third party. He admitted that he was handling the gun in a reckless fashion but indicated that he believed the gun was unloaded because the magazine was taken out. In addition he admitted that Marijuana and Paraphernalia found in the bedroom belonged to him.
As a result of the investigation and witness’s statements, indications are that Jason Tenor was careless and negligent when he fired a single round that struck the victim in the head. Based on all the available evidence Detectives applied for and were issued warrants for Involuntary Manslaughter and Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia.
Jason Rashon Tenor, 21, of 132 Treeline Dr., Statesville was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Possession of Marijuana and Possess Drug Paraphernalia. Jason Tenor was taken before a Magistrate Reba Parker Imes and was given a $15,000.00 Unsecured Bond. Jason Tenor will have a first appearance before a judge on Wednesday November 9th. Tenor has prior marijuana related offences and was on unsupervised probation.