Man Claims Self-Defense In Fatal Shooting Of Suspicious Person On His Property

SCREVEN COUNTY, GEORGIA – One man says that he shot another in self-defense early Sunday morning. Investigators from the Screven County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are looking into his claims.  

According to Sheriff Mike Kile, his officers received a call just after midnight reporting that someone had been shot. They responded to a property south of Sylvania on Highway 301, where they found a deceased male with apparent gunshot wounds.

The occupant of the property told authorities that a vehicle drove past his house and further back onto the property where another house is located. Armed with a rifle, he got in his vehicle and drove back to investigate. He said that the first driver exited the vehicle and came at him aggressively. He stated that he fired his rifle at the man twice in self-defense.

The Sheriff says that they are awaiting the autopsy results to see if they can help authorities confirm or refute the man’s self-defense claim.  Meanwhile, the names of the men involved have not been released. He anticipates presenting the evidence to a grand jury for a decision on any charges.

Meanwhile, the man responsible for the shooting has not been charged or detained. Sheriff Kile commented, “If we thought he was going to run, we’d go ahead and arrest him. But he’s not going to run. In his mind, he’s done nothing to run from.”