Dispute over tablet leads to courthouse shooting
It all started over a tablet.
A man in a Clayton County courthouse was using a tablet about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when a deputy asked him to stop, witness Alfred King said.
The man, who has not been named, was at the courthouse annex in Jonesboro on a child support matter, according to Channel 2 Action News.
When deputies told the man he could not use his tablet while in court, he ignored them.
"The gentleman wouldn't put the tablet down; he kept using it," King said.
Two deputies came over and one reached for his Taser.
The man continued arguing with the deputies, who dragged him out of the courtroom and into the hallway.
"He was holding his hands up, saying, 'Don't touch me,'" King said.
Deputies tried to place him in custody and he resisted, officials told Channel 2.
One deputy deployed his Taser on the man, Jonesboro police Chief Franklin Allen said.
When the stun gun didn't work, another deputy shot the man in the buttocks, Allen said.
King said his two sons and wife were in the hallway when a deputy fired his gun. His son, Nafis Scott, said about 20 other people were in the hallway, too.
The man was taken to Atlanta Medical Center in stable condition, officials told the television station.
“The GBI has been notified and will handle the investigation in its entirety,” Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill said.
GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles had no additional information.
“When details are available,” she said, “we will update you accordingly.”
About the Authors
John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. He provides compelling photos, video and audio from breaking news events for the AJC and media partners WSB Channel 2 Action News & WSB Radio
