Two admit to drive-by shooting at trailer park

Jason Hughes

Ledger Staff Writer

Two men have admitted they were involved in the shooting of a 25-year-old Blacksburg man over $20 in drug money.

Jason Hayes Hughes, 25, pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault and battery with intent to kill. Thomas Francis Adkins, 19, pleaded guilty to the same charge during the last term of General Sessions Court.

Hughes was sentenced to eight years in prison suspended to four years and five years probation. Adkins was sentenced under the Youthful Offender Act for a period not to exceed six years.

Thomas Adkins Both men have been ordered to pay restitution — which totals $39,124 — to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and to the Regional One emergency medical helicopter unit.

Hughes and Adkins were looking to purchase a $20 bag of marijuana when they arrived at the Open Air Mobile Home Park, 131 Bolin Road, Blacksburg, said Assistant Seventh Circuit Solicitor Abel Gray.

The victim, 25-year-old Leo Posey, of Lot 34, Open Air Mobile Home Park, attempted to help the men locate the drugs, Gray said.

When they were unsuccessful in their search, Posey refused to return the money. The men threatened to return to the mobile home park to shoot Posey, Gray said.

They followed through on their threat later the same day and at 6:15 p.m. on May 24, Hughes drove past Posey in a gray Honda while Adkins shot Posey in the hip and shoulder with a .22-caliber weapon, according to testimony. Posey was flown by helicopter to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.