A man out of Southwestern Virginia was arrested on Saturday in Freeburn after officials say he shot a woman.

 

32-year-old James Lester, of Hurley, is now facing charges for first-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment.

 

According to police, Lester is said to have gotten a ride from Cleatus Blankenship and Pamela Owens in the back of their pickup truck. According to witnesses, at some point during the ride, Lester began shouting that he was going to kill the two inside of the truck. He then pulled out a gun before shooting into the back window of the pickup truck. One of the shots is said to have struck Owens in the head.

 

Lester then turned the gun towards Blankenship, who slammed the breaks, causing Lester to exit the truck bed and run away.

 

Officers are said to have caught up with him less than an hour later.

 

He is currently being held in the Pike County Detention Center.