Man Arrested After Gunfire Outside Buford Business Injures Innocent Bystander
BUFORD, Ga. – A 22-year-old man has been arrested after police say he fired a handgun into the ground outside a Buford business, sending shrapnel into the back of an innocent bystander.
Gwinnett County Police responded on Aug. 9 to a reported shooting at Tavern at Mall of GA, 2720 Mall of Georgia Boulevard.
Investigators determined Jalyn Watkins, 22, had been removed from the business and appeared to be intoxicated before retrieving a handgun from a vehicle.
Police said Watkins then fired one round into the ground.
The gunfire caused shrapnel to strike a 25-year-old man in the back who had no involvement in the incident.
According to investigators, the victim was simply standing in the parking lot when he heard the gunshot and felt something hit his back. He ran from the area after realizing there was an armed person nearby.
The victim’s injuries were later determined to be non-life-threatening.
Flock Cameras Help Police Track Suspect
Watkins allegedly left the scene following the shooting.
Police used Flock license plate reader cameras to identify the vehicle involved and track it to an apartment complex on Buford Drive.
The information helped investigators identify and locate Watkins, who was taken into custody within hours of the shooting.
Detectives also recovered the firearm believed to have been used during the incident.
Watkins was transported to the Gwinnett County Jail and charged with:
- Aggravated Assault
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes
- Discharge of a Firearm on the Property of Another
- Unauthorized Discharge of a Firearm Within 50 Yards of a Public Highway
The investigation was conducted by the Gwinnett County Police Department.
