ATHENS, Tennessee (WDEF) – McMinn County investigators say a suspected burglar was shot by a property owner on Sunday.

It happened around 10 AM at property on County road 675, south of Athens.

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Deputies found 36 year old Donnie Hicks had already been shot and was being held at gunpoint by property owner Micheal Beverly.

“Mr. Beverly had suffered a break in and theft the day before,” said Sheriff Joe Guy.

“Based on the investigation by Det. Jared Price, it appeared that Mr. Beverly had went to check on his outbuildings Sunday morning when he discovered two suspects ransacking his outbuilding. He held them at gun point, and then was assaulted by Hicks, and so defended himself with his handgun. The other suspect fled the scene.”

Hicks was taken to a Knoxville hospital with a non-life threatening wound.

The Sheriff, himself, captured the other suspect in a field along county Road 700 about an hour later.

That suspect is 30 year old Gary D. Blankenship.

He was already wanted by authorities in connection to a child abduction case in Overton County last week.

In that case, a woman fled Overton County with her two sons who was supposed to turn them over to authorities.

They found her and the children in McMinn County, but have not released more details.

Both face charges in McMinn County for theft.