According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, deputies with the Uniformed Patrol Division were dispatched to the area of Ellis Dairy Road in reference to a person shot, at 8:05 p.m. Sunday. The first responding officer arrived and located a male victim in the roadway with a gunshot wound.
Beam said the victim told the officer he was traveling as a passenger in a vehicle on Rehoboth Church Road when a white car got behind them and attempted to run them off the road. The victim said that they turned onto Ellis Dairy Road and confronted the driver of the white car, who then shot the victim.
The victim, Michael Goodman, according to his cousin Lisa Landers, was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center Sunday night, where he is in intensive care and is partially paralyzed.
On Wednesday she said, “Michael is stable after having surgery. The bullet went through his left kidney and colon and is stuck in his lumbar (vertebrae).”
After having his left kidney removed and his colon patched up, Landers said, “He can sit up and move his hips and bend his legs, but is paralyzed from the knees down.”
She said he is in a lot of pain.
“I hope and pray he can walk again, he is so strong-willed,” she said.
Landers said Brandon Gilbert was driving all over the road.
“Michael got out and asked him what the problem was, was he OK?” she said.
Gilbert, she said, “had the gun out when Michael came up. He told him to back up and he did. Then he shot him.”
She said Goodman did not know Gilbert, but knew his father.
“Why’d he shoot him?” Landers asked. “I’d love to know why.”
Beam said the victim identified the shooter as Brandon Gilbert, 25, of 144 Morris Mill Road, Griffin. Patrol officers provided a description of the vehicle and of Gilbert over the radio.
While the investigation was being conducted, Beam said patrol officers located the vehicle occupied by Gilbert on North McDonough Road at High Falls Road. As an officer activated the vehicle’s emergency equipment, Gilbert reportedly refused to stop and fled from officers.
Beam said the chase lasted about three to four minutes, reaching speeds of 100 mph along Georgia Highway 16. Gilbert headed home, Beam said. He turned on Morris Mill Road, pulled into his driveway and was taken into custody without incident.
Gilbert was being held at the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. He was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing and attempting to elude, driving on a revoked license and reckless driving.
Ok, now what is your excuse? I'm sure this was not your fault since you ar never responsible for your own stupidity.