Paulding County Man To Serve 20 Years For Drive-By Shooting

PAULDING COUNTY, GA—A judge recently sentenced a Paulding County man for a nearly fatal drive-by shooting that occurred last November. Zackariah Mitchell will serve 20 years behind bars, according to the Paulding District Attorney's Office.

Mitchell pled guilty to aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, battery and other various charges stemming from three separate cases.

According to prosecutors, his co-defendant, Kayden Fillingame, pled guilty to hindering apprehension or punishment of a criminal and two counts of reckless conduct on Nov. 13, 2019. He was sentenced to seven years to serve two years in confinement with numerous conditions.

The cases arose on April 11, 2018 when the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department investigated a drive-by shooting in Dallas that left 52-year-old Kathleen Walker in critical condition. It was determined that Mitchell had a conflict with Walker’s son, Jeremiah.

Following the drive-by shooting, prosecutors say Mitchell and Fillingame drove to Atlanta to carry out drug transactions that resulted in a tip to the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force regarding their whereabouts.

Mitchell was ultimately arrested and found to be in possession of cocaine, marijuana and codeine, with evidence of distribution.

On February 11, 2020, while in confinement at the Paulding County Detention Center, Mitchell also received battery charges for assaulting a fellow inmate, according to prosecutors.

During the plea hearing, the victim of the drive-by shooting, Kathleen Walker, was present in the courtroom along with her family. Her daughter spoke on behalf of the family regarding Walker’s medical treatment and condition.

She informed the court that Walker was struck by a bullet in the leg and the massive amount of blood loss nearly caused Walker to lose her life. The doctors did not expect her to live, but if she did, she was not expected to be able to walk or talk, however, Walker beat the odds. Although she requires 24/7 care provided by her loving son and daughters, she can now speak, walk with support and no longer requires the assistance of a feeding tube to eat.

In court, Walker and her family forgave Mitchell for the incident that changed all of their lives and encouraged him to use this time to turn his life around.

The case was prosecuted by senior assistant district attorney Emily Harsen and the VAWA Unit who worked diligently to see that these defendants were brought to justice.