What began as road rage ended Tuesday night with gunshots fired in a Cherokee County cul-de-sac and one man’s arrest, authorities said.
It incident started when two 20-year-olds in a vehicle on East Cherokee Drive spotted a black Lexus driving erratically, according to Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. The two females passed the Lexus, prompting that car’s driver to then pursue the women’s car for several miles, Baker said.
“Out of fear, one of the victims called a friend, advised him of the situation and asked if he would meet them on Apple Orchard Lane,” Baker said in an emailed statement.
The driver of the Lexus, later identified as Richard Wilt, 42, of Woodstock, followed the women to the Apple Orchard Lane cul-de-sac, where both vehicles stopped, Baker said. That’s when Wilt allegedly opened fire on the women, firing a round at their vehicle, witnesses told police.
“Witnesses stated Wilt attempted to fire more rounds, but his gun malfunctioned,” Baker said.
Investigators found one spent shell casing and two unfired rounds of .45 caliber ammunition in the cul-de sac of Apple Orchard Lane. The victims, whose names were not released, were not injured and it appears the round missed their vehicle, Baker said. Neither the victims nor the suspect live on the street where the shots were fired, he said.
Wilt then drove out of the cul-de-sac, but was spotted by deputies on Toonigh Road and stopped on Billings Road, where he was arrested, Baker said.
Wilt was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, discharging a firearm while intoxicated, DUI, possession of a schedule II drug, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, and open container, according to the sheriff’s office. A .45 caliber handgun was located in Wilt’s vehicle.
Wilt was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, where he remained Wednesday afternoon on a $60,446 bond.
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