BEDFORD — A Bedford woman was arrested Sunday evening on felony charges after allegedly firing a handgun multiple times near a neighbor’s children and subsequently threatening the children’s mother.
Nicole Gilstrap, 42, was taken into custody by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department officers on November 2, on preliminary charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Sgt. W. Daugherty, Lawrence County Central Dispatch, received a 911 call at approximately 7:13 p.m. The male caller advised that his wife and five children were home and that their neighbor, Nicole Gilstrap, was threatening to shoot his wife and children. He also stated that his wife reported hearing six gunshots go off.
Sgt. Daugherty, along with three other officers from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the scene. Sgt. Daugherty was the first to make contact with Gilstrap, who was standing outside near her camper. Gilstrap was placed in handcuffs, read her Miranda Rights, and stated she understood them.
When asked why the police were called, Gilstrap stated she was “tired of” hearing children screaming and yelling in the field next door and “shot her gun into the ground to get them to stop.” She claimed she stood behind her storage shed and fired six rounds into the ground. When asked if she saw the children, she replied no, she could only hear them.
Sgt. Daugherty then spoke with the female neighbor, who confirmed she was on her back porch when she heard a gunshot go off, followed by a total of six rounds. Her two oldest sons were in a truck in the field behind the house at the time, listening to coyotes.
The boys told the officer they heard the gunshots and initially thought it was another neighbor who lived down the road, but were told by their mother that she saw Gilstrap shooting.
The female further reported that a verbal argument ensued between her and Gilstrap, during which Gilstrap allegedly threatened to shoot her. The woman was standing in her driveway while Gilstrap stood behind her camper. She stated she did not see Gilstrap with the gun at the time of the argument.
Gilstrap signed a consent-to-search form, and officers entered her camper, where they located a 9mm Star handgun with nine rounds remaining in the magazine. The handgun was secured and placed into evidence.
Gilstrap was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and placed into custody without further incident.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
