Bizarre Incident Involving Swords Reported Near Hiram

Paulding County

Hiram, Ga. - According to officers in Paulding County, a suspicious person was reported attempting to get into a local woman's home.

Later that same day, officers were called back to the same area after reports of gunfire. Deputies arrived to find a lot of blood at the scene. The suspect from earlier in the day attacked the neighbor with a sword. He then attempted to attack police. The neighbor ended up shooting the suspect in the leg. The suspect continued to come after officers which then led to one of the deputies shooting him as well.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital once detained. His current condition has not been reported. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now investigating.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the potential charges in this case - aggravated assault.

Aggravated Assault in Georgia

Aggravated Assault in Georgia is defined by O.C.G.A. § 16-5-21 as:

A person commits the offense of aggravated assault when he or she assaults with intent to murder, to rape, or to rob; with a deadly weapon or with any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in serious bodily injury; with any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in strangulation; or without legal justification by discharging a firearm from within a motor vehicle toward a person or persons.

Aggravated assault is classified as a felony. The penalty can include a prison term between one to twenty years. Furthermore, there are specific situations in which the penalty for aggravated assault is already specified in the statute:

• Assault upon a peace officer while conducting their official duties,
• Assault upon a person who is 65 years old or older,
• Assault against a correctional officer while they are engaged in their official duties,
• Assault in a public transit vehicle or station,
• Assault during the commission of theft of a commercial vehicle transporting cargo,
• Assault involving a firearm on a student, teacher, or any other school personnel on school property,
• Assault between past or present spouses, foster parents and foster children, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, or other person living in a house,
• Assault with intent to rape a child under 14 years old, or
• Assault on an officer of the court while they are engaged in their official duties.

Practice Note

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