Remember, your news writing assignment MUST have a headline, only the first word
Remember, your news writing assignment MUST have a headline, only the first word in a headline is capitalized, the lede is only one sentence and each paragraph should have only 1-2 sentence(s). 7 Paragraphs
Be sure to write in inverted pyramid style. You don’t have to include every piece of information provided to you for this assignment.
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
Use the information below to write a complete news story. Don’t forget your headline. Remember, there are some AP mistakes in this. Don’t assume anything is correctly formatted.
Where: In your hometown or the town closest to where you are, specifically on Grayson Street
When: Today
The Details:
A woman named Samantha Jones, who lives a 2121 Hightower Avenue, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
Police say she shot a second woman, Hilari Elton of 43 Basil Rd. in Pace, after the two engaged in an argument.
According to the police report Elton sustained a bullet wound in the left leg, but is expected to make a full recovery. Jones faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The report also reads that Jones, who is 31, went to Elton’s home one week ago (the arrest wasn’t made until today). Jones is alleged to have started an argument with Elton over moment Jones said Elton owed her.
At some point, the argument escalated and the two women began to fight. Witnesses tried to break up the tussle and eventually succeeded in separating the women.
Then, Jones walked to her car as the other woman retreated to the house. When Jones reached her car, she retrieved a handgun and fired at the other woman, according to booking documents.
The bullet struck Elton in the leg. As Elton shouted that she had been shot and ran for cover, Jones fired the gun again and then fled in her car, documents say.
Jones was booked into the Escambia County Jail on counts of attempted second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.
Direct Quotes:
From Bill Broadstreet, Jones’ attorney: “Our client has no comment at this time, beyond to state she is innocent.”
Police Chief Tommy Paxton: “Based on what we know having spoken to numerous witnesses as well as both the victim and perpetrator, Ms. Jones willfully fired a gun at another human being. It’s frightening to think what might have happened. There is a real chance this was caused by Ms. Jones’ use of drugs. She admitted to us to having taken a hallucinogenic agent of some kind, and we are still testing the contents of a small vial we confiscated from her person to confirm this. AS she began to sober up, Ms. Jones told us that she mistook Ms. Elton for someone else.”
District Attorney Mike Edwards: “Luckily, Ms. Elton’s injuries appear to be minor. However, that doesn’t mean the charges should minor as well. We are prosecuting this case, and will continue to prosecute it, not on the outcome of the act, but on the intent behind the act.”
Hilari Elton: “I don’t even know the other woman, to be honest. We’ve never met prior to the night of the incident. I honestly don’t know why she chose my house or thought that I owed here anything. Like I say, I’ve never met her before.”
