Joshua Sykes is facing a first degree felony charge

ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — A 37-year-old man is facing an attempted capital murder charge after investigators say he fired shots at deputies on Wednesday, hitting an Orange County Sheriff's Office vehicle.

Law enforcement officers spent more than an hour in the 7200 block of Highway 12 west of Mauriceville on Wednesday, and said Joshua Sykes was inside a camper with a gun. No one was injured.

Sykes was arrested, and was initially charged with aggravated assault on a public servant. The charge was upgraded to attempted capital murder according to a Thursday news release from the sheriff's office.

Authorities were forced to shut down Hwy. 12 due to the active scene. Investigators say he fired the shots around 2 p.m.

Highway 12 was shut down at FM 1132, near Trinity Baptist Church northeast of Vidor. It was also closed at TX 62 in Mauriceville.

From a 4-2-20 Orange County Sheriff's Office news release:

After further investigation it has been determined that the initial charge be changed regarding the incident involving Joshua Sykes, date of birth January 29, 1983. The initial charge was aggravated Assault on a Public Servant, 1st degree Felony. The charge has been amended to Attempted Capital Murder, 1st degree Felony. The warrant has been secured on the new charge.

From a 4-1-20 Orange County Sheriff's Office news release:

On Wednesday, April 1, 2020 around 2:00pm the Orange County Sheriff’s

Office received a call in reference to a male subject brandishing a firearm along the 7200 Block of Highway 12. Upon arrival, the subject fired several rounds. One round struck an Orange County Sheriff’s Office Vehicle. No one was injured.

One subject was taken into Custody without further incident. The scene is still being processed at this time