Statements Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill made on a 911 call after he shot a woman in Lawrenceville over the weekend are inconsistent with what police found when they arrived at the scene, Gwinnett County's district attorney said Tuesday.
Hill has not spoken to Gwinnett County investigators about the shooting, though he released a brief statement Tuesday afternoon asking for prayers for 43-year-old Gwenevere McCord, who was shot in the abdomen. McCord remains in critical condition.
Officials in the Clayton sheriff’s office remain mum.
In his 911 call, Hill said he had accidentally shot McCord while he was practicing "police tactics," Porter said. But the statements Hill made about the position of McCord's body and the location of the weapons found at the model home where McCord worked did not match what police found, Porter said.
Police are not releasing Hill’s call or that of a second person who walked into the model home right after the Sunday shooting. Doing so before Hill speaks to investigators, Porter said, might muddy the sheriff’s version of events.
“We don’t want to give him a lot of facts,” Porter said. “I want to hear the unvarnished version of what happened.”
The 911 calls, Porter said, “will become critical to our investigation. They’re the only statement of his we have.”
In the meantime, McCord underwent surgery Tuesday at Gwinnett Medical Center, said her father, Ernest McCord. McCord’s pastor also visited.
Ernest McCord said Hill and his daughter are "good friends" and that he has known Hill for years. Hill has visited the family's home in Jonesboro, and Gwenevere McCord worked on Hill's second campaign for sheriff. She is a real estate broker for Paran Realty.
Ernest McCord said he was “so blown away by this freak accident,” but he did not blame Hill, who called the family Sunday.
“He’s always been a perfect gentleman with us,” Ernest McCord said. “He’s always shown concern for us and for her.”
In an emailed statement in which he said he was "involved in a tragic and heartbreaking accident," Hill noted Gwenevere McCord "is very dear to me."
“I will continue to pray unceasingly for her recovery,” Hill wrote. “I ask you all to please pray for Gwenevere and her family throughout this most difficult time.”
Hill did not report to work Monday, and it was unclear if he worked on Tuesday. Deputy chief Shon Hill and Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shegale Thurmond have not returned repeated calls. Clayton County Commission Chairman Jeff Turner said Tuesday he has not talked to Hill, nor has Hill reached out to him, but that the sheriff’s department is operating as normal.
Porter said seven or eight top-ranking members of the Clayton County sheriff’s department responded to 2567 Britt Trail Drive near Lawrenceville, where the shooting occurred, Sunday night. So far, he said, none has cooperated with investigators — the Clayton County sheriff’s department has not given him information about Hill’s service weapon or his training records.
If those that were present at the scene continue to be “less than cooperative,” Porter said, he may compel them to speak by calling them before a grand jury.
“They can speak to the police, or I can come with a search warrant,” he said.
Porter said he made the decision not to have police take Hill into custody Sunday. The requirements for arresting a peace officer in Georgia are different from arresting others. Porter said because he was unclear about the requirements for arresting a sheriff, and Hill, who had invoked his right to remain silent, wasn't a flight risk, he was allowed to leave the scene. Porter said had he made a procedural error at the beginning, it could mean evidence collected after the arrest was inadmissible.
Gwinnett County police said the Clayton County sheriff’s department is responsible for doing an administrative investigation into Hill’s actions.
"If they're being unresponsive, I hope at some point they'll be able to make a statement if for no other reason than to assure the citizens of Clayton County that they're on the job and protecting and serving their interests," Turner said.
While Hill has not given a statement about the shooting, he turned over the clothes he was wearing and allowed officers to download his call history and other information from his cell phone. Who he called, in what order, will be important to the investigation, Porter said.
Hill’s county vehicle, a dark-colored Chevrolet Camaro equipped with blue lights, was left at the scene Sunday and officers were processing it Monday.
The colorful and controversial Hill has made a name for himself in Clayton for his get-tough stance on crime. He envisions himself as a street crime fighter who runs a tight jail. He once had inmates face the wall when he was in their presence, and has used a tank to go after drug dealers. As sheriff, Hill oversees a department of 378 employees and has an annual budget of $34.6 million.
Hill is in his second term as sheriff, having led a low-key existence since being acquitted of dozens of felony charges, ranging from racketeering to making false statements, in 2013. Although many people in the community are stunned by the shooting, they are reserving judgment and declining to comment until more details emerge.
Hill’s attorney, Drew Findling, did not return a call Tuesday requesting comment. Porter said Findling also did not respond to a Monday email from him requesting a statement from Hill. On Tuesday, Gwinnett County Police Chief Butch Ayers said the department planned to reach out to Hill again.
Porter said a decision on any charges will be made later this week.
McCord can communicate by nodding her head, her father said, but cannot speak and has not been able to tell her family what happened. Ernest McCord said he believes it was an accident, but is reserving judgment about the incident until he hears his daughter’s side of the story.
“It’s been a long battle. She’s making progress. She knows we’re there,” he said. “We don’t feel like it’s anything he’s done intentionally. That’s what people need to understand.”
About the Author
