RHEA CO WOMAN KILLED BY NEIGHBOR UPSET ABOUT HER SHOOTING OFF FIREWORKS

A Rhea County man is behind bars on a homicide charge after he allegedly went to a neighbor’s house to complain about fireworks and left one woman dead in the confrontation.

Troy Cranston Butler, 57, is charged with criminal homicide in the shooting death of Heather Danielle Higgins, whose age is currently unknown, according to authorities.

An affidavit in the case filed by detective Jesse Wilkey said Butler was upset Saturday about fireworks being shot by Higgins, her children and parents at a home on Jordan Lane a short distance away.

Butler allegedly left his home in a Dodge pickup truck and drove to the Higgins home taking a .45-caliber handgun with him, Wilkey’s affidavit states.

When Butler arrived at Higgins’ home, “he immediately began arguing with the homeowner, William Jordan,” Wilkey said in the affidavit. “Higgins attempted to break up the argument and was shot in the chest by Butler in the front yard of the home.”

Rhea County deputies who answered the call attempted life-saving measures, but Higgins later died at the Rhea Medical Center Emergency Room in Dayton, Wilkey said.

Butler is now being held on a $5 million bond set Monday during an arraignment in Rhea County General Sessions Court. He does not yet have an attorney on record, court officials said.

Butler’s next court appearance is set for Aug. 6 in General Sessions Court, officials said.