MEMPHIS, Tenn.– A Memphis man was arrested after police say he stole his girlfriend’s gun she carries for work.
Investigators said Robert Wooten’s girlfriend is a parole and probation officer with the state of Tennessee.
According to the police affidavit, Wooten and his girlfriend, Brittney Hall, were at his mother’s house on Cable Avenue when the couple got into a fight.
Police said that’s when Wooten got her gun and it went off while their children were around.
He was arrested on Tuesday but the whole ordeal happened back in December.
“They’ve been together for a while, that’s normal but never to the point that he would hurt her or the kids. That ain’t my brother,” said Stephanie Wooten, Robert’s sister.
She said her brother isn’t the bad guy he might appear to be.
Hall told police when the couple arrived at Wooten’s mother’s house, her service weapon was missing from her gun box she keeps locked in her trunk.
When she got out of the car Wooten was holding the gun and refused to give it back.
The gun went off but luckily no one was hit.
No one answered the door at the Whitehaven address listed for the couple.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections said Hall followed protocol and released this statement:
“Officer Hall kept her weapon in a secure location. Unfortunately, someone breached that security and temporarily took possession of her weapon. The officer followed departmental procedures by immediately notifying the police and the Department of Correction.”
People in the community said they hope better choices down the road will keep people safe.
“They should pick better people to be around,” said a neighbor.
Police said Wooten has previously been convicted of burglary and pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge against Hall back in 2013.