Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

LAWRENCEBURG, TN- A Lawrence County jury deliberated approximately one hour today in the shooting death of a beloved racecar driver who also worked for the local utility service.

In October 2021, Jeremy Wise was arrested for the shooting death of Mark Fields. Initial reports indicated that the two men had an argument or a confrontation about Wise shooting Fields' dog.

Fields was shot multiple times and died five days later at a hospital in Nashville. Wise, after shooting Fields, turned the gun on himself but did survive.

After Wise recovered from the self-inflicted gunshot wound to his face, he was arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Murder

On Monday, July 31, the case came to trial in Lawrenceburg. The state presented multiple witnesses that said, Fields and friends were at a shop to work on a homecoming float.

Within a few minutes, they heard gunshots, Fields told them, he was going to go talk to his neighbor about shooting at the dog.

According to testimony, within three minutes, Mark Fields would be mortally wounded from approximately seven gunshot wounds, and Wise would be wounded from a self-inflicted wound.

A paramedic testified that once he could talk to Wise, he said, "Save him, let me die." Further testimony quoted Wise as saying, "I shot him, he threatened my family."

A medical examiner testified that an autopsy showed Fields was shot five to seven times with almost all of the wounds entering his body from behind.

Wise's defense attorney focused on that Fields was on Wise's property when he was shot.

In closing statements, the state asked for a conviction of 2nd Degree Murder. The defense acknowledged that Wise did shoot Fields and asked the jury to return a verdict of Voluntary homicide.

The jury found Wise guilty of 2nd Murder, which is a Class A Felony.

Many of Field's friends stood to watch as Wise, who was out on bond, was taken into custody.

Wise will be sentenced on October 10. He faces up to 25 years in prison.