By Bill Grubb
News Editor

ROGERSVILLE - The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office is investigating the robbery of an elderly woman who tried to defend herself with a pistol, which was ultimately taken by the burglar.
    On February 1, deputies were responding to a residence on Highway 66 South, near Bulls Gap, regarding a complaint of a suspicious vehicle.
    Hawkins County Deputy Kenny Lunsford, Jr. was reportedly on the phone with an 86-year-old woman when she laid the phone down.  Deputies then heard the woman screaming as well as another voice, according to Sheriff Ronnie Lawson.
    When Deputies arrived at the residence, they found the front door had been forced open and recovered a large metal wrench from a bathroom floor.
    The homeowner advised deputies that a white female, approximately 5'8"-5'10" tall, with a skinny build, long dark hair and round face, had broken out a window of her front door, reached in and unlocked the door and entered her residence.
   "The unknown female met (the victim) at her bedroom door and told her she wasn't going to hurt her.  She said she wanted money and began to pull (the victim) through the hallway toward the kitchen," Lawson said.  "(The victim) pulled a pistol and tried to shoot the female attacker, when the attacker tried to take the pistol from her, the weapon discharged missing the attacker."
    The burglar then left in a red vehicle, allegedly taking the pistol and the elderly woman's purse, which contained a bank card, checkbook and rings.  
    The victim suffered a minor injury to her right hand but did not want medical attention, according to Lawson.
    Anyone with an information about this case, please contact the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office at 423.272.4848.
    (Editor's note: The victim’s name and address were not included in this story.)