Abigail Margulis

amargulis@citizen-times.com

FRANKLIN - A verbal altercation between a father and his son escalated to a shooting in Franklin that left the son injured Tuesday, according to the Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland.

David Finn, 71, and Ryan Finn, 36, had been working at their family landscaping business along Highlands Road about noon when David asked his son to leave the property, Holland said.

Ryan got in his car, and began to drive away, but the two continued to argue.

Evidence suggests Ryan drove his truck toward his father and hit his vehicle "nearly striking the father, at which time the father pulled a gun and fired multiple shots," Holland said. "The father shot the gun toward the windshield with the son in the driver's seat."

A bullet struck Ryan in his forehead, and a second bullet grazed his side, according to authorities. EMS transported him to Angel Medical Hospital, where he was treated and later released.

After the elder Finn fired shots at his son, he called Holland.

"They had a history of domestic situations, (and) it was an ongoing problem," Holland said.

Although Holland was familiar with the pair, he said, "It's never escalated to this level."

Both men were charged Tuesday night with one count each of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.

They were detained at the Macon County Detention Center in lieu of no bond and were expected to have a bond hearing Wednesday or Thursday.

David Finn was the former director of Blue Ridge Public Safety, a private security business, according to Holland.