Man accidentally shot while driving friend to work in Gwinnett

A Lithonia man is in jail after accidentally shooting a friend who was driving him to work, Snellville police said.

Kenneth Courtney Hazel, 33, has been charged with discharging a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. The victim, 21-year-old Zavian Brooks, also of Lithonia, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen that is not believed to be life-threatening.

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Brooks was driving Hazel to work around 11 a.m. Thursday. Hazel works as an armed security guard and was attempting to get his gun from the back seat when the it accidentally discharged, Snellville police said in a release. Police later found that Hazel was under the influence of alcohol.

Brooks was struck in the abdomen, and was conscious and talking to police and fire personnel as he was being transported to Gwinnett Medical Center, police said. Brooks “made it clear to officers” that the shooting was an accident, the release says.

Hazel was booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center at 1:13 p.m. He is being held on $1,850 bond.

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