Paulding Man Arrested for Second Degree Murder After 4-Year-Old’s Fatal Shooting
Paulding County detectives have arrested a local man on second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of a four-year-old girl. The arrest follows a call received by Paulding E-911 on Friday, August 30, 2024, at approximately 2:40 AM. The call reported that a four-year-old child had fallen and required medical attention.
When first responders arrived at 152 Village Drive, Hiram, GA 30141, they discovered that the child had an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The child was pronounced deceased by the Paulding County Coroner’s Office early that morning.
Investigations revealed that an adult sibling of the child had left a gun unattended, which the child had retrieved and accidentally discharged, causing the fatal injury. As a result of the negligent handling of the firearm, Joseph Edwin Hinson, 20, has been arrested and charged with:
- Cruelty to Children, Second Degree
- Murder, Second Degree
Hinson is currently being held in the Paulding County Jail without bond. The investigation remains open and active. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about the case to call their tip line at (770) 443-3047 or send a message via the Paulding Sheriff mobile app.
