Man gets 50 years for stalking wife to friends’ home, shooting at entire family
A Temple man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Monday for shooting at an entire family, authorities said.
Jonathan Wade Willis pleaded guilty to several charges in connection with the 2017 shooting, the Coweta County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Around 1 a.m. on March 26, 2017, Willis knocked on the door of Chris Carnes’ home, demanding to see his wife, Terri, the release said. Terri Willis had recently separated from her husband and was temporarily staying with the Carnes.
Chris Carnes refused to allow Willis to enter, and he noticed two ammunition magazines on Willis’ belt, the release said. He asked if Willis was armed and directed his wife, Patti, to call 911.
That’s when Willis pulled out a 9mm handgun and began firing at everyone inside, the release said. Chris Carnes was shot five times, Patti Carnes was shot once through her hand and a bullet flew by the head of their daughter, Katie.
Willis ran away but was arrested later that day by Carroll County deputies, the release said.
The Carnes all survived, but Chris Carnes spent 17 days in Grady Memorial Hospital with wounds that didn’t heal for seven months, the release said. Patti Carnes still doesn’t have the full use of her hand.
On Tuesday, Willis pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and stalking, the release said.
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Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
