TWO MEN ACCUSED IN A SHOOTING OVER THE WEEKEND AT A KINGSPORT HOUSING COMPLEX THAT LEFT AN INNOCENT 12 YEAR OLD GIRL INJURED WILL BE ARRAIGNED TODAY IN GENERAL SESSIONS COURT. 44 YEAR OLD JOSEPH BEARD AND 30 YEAR OLD SHAMARKUS MASON ARE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON. MASON ALSO IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF COCAINE WITHIN 1000 FEET OF A SCHOOL, WHILE BEARD IS ALSO CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BEARD AND MASON HAD ALLEGEDLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A SHOOTOUT THAT LEFT BEARD, LAWTON COLLIE AND THE JUVENILE FEMALE INJURED. THE GIRL SUFFERED A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE BACK OF HER LEG, BUT IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. POLICE SAID THE INCIDENT DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE DRUG RELATED. THEY BELIEVE IT RESULTED FROM A VERBAL ARGUMENT THAT ESCALED INTO GUNFIRE.