An attempt to break up a fight after a funeral gathering ended in a deadly shooting outside a Gwinnett County home, police said.
Jesse Towler, 35, died at a hospital Sunday shortly after he was shot in the chest, Gwinnett police said in a statement. Joey Von Perry, 32, is facing charges of reckless conduct and involuntary manslaughter in his death.
Perry’s family and friends were gathered at his home in the 2500 block of Kachina Trail after a funeral Saturday, according to police. The gathering extended into the early morning hours Sunday, and at some point, Towler went outside. Investigators believe he was involved in an altercation with one of the other invited guests.
Perry went outside and fired a single shot from his handgun to try to break up the fight, police said. The gunshot hit Towler in the chest.
Officers who responded to the scene about 2 a.m. found the man in critical condition and gave him first aid. He was rushed to Northside Hospital Gwinnett, where he died.
Perry was taken to the Gwinnett County Jail, where he is being held without bond on the involuntary manslaughter charge.
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett police detectives at 770-513-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
— Staff writer Chelsea Prince contributed to this article.
In other news:
About the Author
