SPARTA, TENNESSEE — A 37-year-old man faces attempted first-degree murder charges after allegedly firing multiple shots at a semi-truck cab with his relative inside, putting two rounds through the windshield, in the early morning hours Saturday in Sparta.
Sparta Police Department officers responded to 203 South Young Street at approximately 3:28 a.m. on April 11, 2026, for reports of shots fired. The victim told police he was inside the cab of his semi-truck at about 3:20 a.m. when he heard what sounded like someone striking the driver’s side door from outside. He looked out and saw a family member — later identified as Gilberto Tejero-Gonzales — standing nearby pointing a handgun in his direction. Moments later, multiple gunshots struck the truck. Two rounds penetrated the windshield. The victim stayed inside the truck during the shooting and was not injured.
The Arrest
Tejero-Gonzales fled the scene in a vehicle before officers arrived. Officers found the vehicle parked at the Royal Inn at 803 Valley Drive. They surveilled the vehicle while waiting for additional units. When backup arrived, officers located Tejero-Gonzales in a hotel room and took him into custody without incident. Investigators executed search warrants on both the room and his vehicle.
“Due to the familial relationship between the involved parties, investigators believe that prior communications may exist between the individuals or with third parties that could help establish motive, intent, or premeditation related to the offense,” Sparta Police said.
District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway reported that Tejero-Gonzales faces the following charges: attempted first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. He was booked into the White County Jail on a $1,077,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on April 14, 2026.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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