STAFF REPORT :::
One woman has been arrested in connection with a shooting that allegedly stemmed from a romantic breakup.
Deputies of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office responded Wednesday afternoon to the area of North 9th and Bleachery streets in response to a report of a person shot. At that same time, approximately 12:03 p.m., investigators were also called to WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital in response to a patient, 27-year-old Menzer Henley, who was seeking treatment for a gunshot wound.
Upon arrival at the N. 9th Street location, deputies and investigators located 27-year-old Reginald Stewart, of Jonesboro, who was standing beside a black Honda Element that appeared to have sustained damage from gunfire.
Authorities say Stewart voluntarily met with investigators at the Sheriff’s Office and provided a statement regarding the shooting incident while other SCSO personnel canvassed the scene for potential witnesses.
According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, the dispute precipitating the shooting began in Cobb County.
“According to both Henley and Stewart, they had been followed to Griffin from Lithonia by Henley’s ex-girlfriend Latonya Tucker, (B/F 29). According to Henley, Tucker was upset because he no longer wanted to be in a relationship with her and he had called Stewart to pick him up and take him home to Griffin. Both Henley and Stewart stated that Tucker tried to run them off the road several times as they were
traveling south on North 9th Street. Stewart then stopped his car so Henley could get out of the car and get away from Tucker on foot,” Dix said. “When Tucker saw Henley exit the vehicle and run away, she turned her vehicle around and began driving her car in pursuit of Henley. When Henley would not stop for her, Tucker produced a handgun and opened fire at him striking him in the left hip. Mr. Stewart saw Tucker shooting at Henley, retrieved his own handgun, and began firing at Tucker from the inside of his vehicle causing the damage to his own windshield.”
Officials say Tucker fled the scene in a black GMC Acadia. Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate her. She was subsequently arrested in Cobb County. Cobb authorities are holding Tucker’s vehicle pending SCSO investigators obtaining a search warrant.
Tucker has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. She is being held in the Spalding County Jail.
Stewart provided a statement to investigators and was free to leave. He is not facing charges.
“Mr. Stewart exercised his 2nd Amendment right was not charged because he was well within that right and Georgia law to fire his weapon at Tucker. He was lawfully trying to stop Tucker from causing death or great bodily harm to Henley as allowed by Georgia law,” Dix said. “He did exactly what the statute allows you to do while in defense of yourself or another person. After he fired the shots, he remained on scene until we got there, spoke to officers, was cooperative, and told us what happened. All of the evidence recovered from the scene matched the statements of Mr. Henley and Mr. Stewart.”
Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
Your support will enable The GRIP to continue to provide relevant news in your community and beyond. It’s quick and painless. Just click this link: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16902623
All support will be greatly appreciated, whether a small one-time donation or recurring monthly gift.
Thank you!
