Two Ridgeland High School students face attempted murder charges, as well as charges for drug and weapon possession.

According to Rossville Detective Dave Scroggins: Anderson Trammel Watts, 18, and Carlan Dontez Bowman, 18, have both posted bail. Early Saturday, May 9, a group of 6-8 teenagers called Bowman, whom they had done business with before, to purchase marijuana.

They must have decided — on their way to pick up the pot at Bowman and Watts’s residence on Wotring Street in Rossville — to take the drugs without payment. Watts answered the door since Bowman’s girlfriend was visiting, and when the teenagers attempted to steal the drugs, Watts shot at them with a 12-gauge shotgun and hit the driver, identified as Henry Schrader, 19. Neighbors notified the police that shots were fired.

When the officers arrived around 3 a.m. they did not find anything, but heard that a gunshot victim had been admitted to Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe.

“That one added up pretty quick,” Scroggins said. The teen who stole the drugs from Watts and Bowman could face robbery and drug possession charges if the district attorney decides. “If there was a law for stupid, they’d all be in jail,” Scroggins said.

The Chattanooga Times reported that Bowman finished classes in December and was scheduled to graduate next week with the rest of his class, according to Walker County Schools spokeswoman Elaine Womack.  

Walker County Messenger