News

Gunshot call leads to arrest of man wanted in Buncombe

William Jason Cox

By Bill Moss, Published: May 23, 2013

FRUITLAND — A 27-year-old Asheville man wanted for several charges in Buncombe County was caught in Fruitland on Wednesday by Henderson County sheriff's deputies responding to call about gunshots.

Deputies responded to a disturbance call at 5:37 p.m. about shots fired at 123 Haynes Blvd. in the Fruitland community. The officers met a female subject leaving the area in a vehicle matching the description from the original call. Officers stopped the vehicle and found that a round from a handgun had been discharged through the floorboard of the vehicle.
After ensuring the victim was OK, officers went to the house at 123 Haynes Blvd. As officers approached the residence, a man later identified as William Jason Cox was seen leaving the residence and entering the woods with a rifle and black backpack. After a short while officers encountered Cox walking down Harper Road still carrying the rifle and backpack. Officers ordered him to drop the weapon and he complied. Officers found a .380 semiautomatic handgun in his pocket, as well as the Marlin .22 rifle he had been carrying.
Cox was arrested on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.
Earlier in the day the Sheriff's office the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office had notified local authorities that Cox was wanted on five outstanding warrants (Injury to Real Property, Exceeding a Posted Speed, Driving While License Revoked, Hit and Run, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Reckless Driving).
Cox remains in the Henderson County jail under a $21,000 secured bond.