Clayton Sheriff: Shooting in Gwinnett 'Tragic, Heartbreaking Accident'

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Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, who hadn’t spoken to police since he allegedly shot and critically injured a woman friend Sunday in Gwinnett County, called the shooting a “tragic and heartbreaking accident.”

Hill, who allegedly shot Gwenevere McCord, 43, of Jonesboro, Sunday in a model home near Lawrenceville, addressed the incident for the first time Tuesday afternoon in a Nixle alert:

As reported, on May 3, 2015, I was involved in a tragic and heartbreaking accident. Gwenevere McCord, who is very dear to me, was critically injured in this accident. Please understand that for the past 48 hours, I have been entirely focused on Gwenevere and her family. I will continue to pray unceasingly for her recovery. I ask you all to please pray for Gwenevere and her family throughout this most difficult time.

Sheriff Victor Hill

McCord was found shot in the abdomen and taken in critical condition at Gwinnett Medical Center, where she remains, but is making progress. Her father Ernest McCord told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the shooting was a “freak accident” and that he holds no ill will toward Hill. He said his daughter and Hill are good friends.

Police have investigated the shooting apparently without much help from Hill and haven’t released any details outside the preliminary findings.

Police said Hill called 911 at 5:39 p.m. Sunday to report the shooting at the model home located at 2567 Britt Trail Drive, near Tribble Mill Park. McCord is an agent for Paran Realty and worked at the model home.

Related

• Police: GA Sheriff Accidentally Shoots Woman, Not Detained
• Police: Clayton County Sheriff Involved in Accidental Shooting in Gwinnett (Updated)

Hill and the woman were the only people in the house at the time of the shooting, police said.

“The shooter has been identified as Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill,” police spokesman Sgt. Brian Doan said Sunday. ”The shooting has been reported as accidental.”

Hill reportedly “refused to speak with investigators,” and was released from the scene, police said

Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter told WSB Radio in a Monday interview that Hill wasn’t detained because state law says an active sheriff can only be charged via a warrant issued by a Superior Court judge. No judge was apparently available.

Porter told the AJC the investigation could finish up this week and a decision whether to press charges will be made after that.

No charges are pending, but Porter told the Gwinnett Daily Post negligence charges are possible.

WSB-TV screenshot