Mt. Juliet man shot in face

A Mt. Juliet man was critically injured during a shooting inside a car in the Highway 109 and 70 vicinity late Monday afternoon, police said.
The 23-year-old victim was apparently shot in the face during an altercation with another passenger inside the car. The gunman, identified as Robert Holcombe of Mt. Juliet, was taken into police custody and locked up at the Wilson County Jail under an investigation hold, Lebanon Police Chief Scott Bowen said Monday night.
"He will be charged late tonight or early tomorrow," Bowen said.
The victim was transported by Wilson Emergency Management Agency to University Medical Center and then airlifted to a Nashville hospital, officials said. The victim – whose identity was not released Monday – was in critical but stable condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the police chief said.
Bowen explained investigators are interviewing the driver of the silver Pontiac Grand Prix, who witnessed the shooting.
"One passenger shot another is what we believe," he said. " … They are still interviewing the witness and trying to figure out a possible motive."
Bowen noted the driver, whose police believe is from Mt. Juliet as well, reported the shooting shortly before 4 p.m. Monday
He explained investigators reported the driver pulled over after one of her passengers was shot.
"We believe it to be a handgun," the police chief said.
LPD Detective Nestor Irizarry is leading the investigation.
Night News Editor J.K. Devine can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 46 or by e-mail at jk.devine@lebanondemocrat.com.