An Epworth man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including Felony Murder, in relation to the death of a local resident. The suspect, identified as 58-year-old William Joseph Woods, is facing charges of Felony Murder, Malice Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
The GBI got involved at the request of the Fannin County Sheriff's Office to assist with the murder investigation that unfolded in the town of Epworth. Deputies responded to a "shots fired" call last Thursday evening, arriving at the 1300 block of Old Epworth Road to discover the victim, Douglas Harper, 41, dead from an apparent gunshot wound in the front yard of an a residence. William Woods, who was present at the scene, was identified as the shooter and was promptly arrested on site.
Further details on what led to the fatal shooting have not yet been disclosed. The suspect, Woods, has since been booked into the Fannin County Jail, where he remains incarcerated as the investigation continues. An autopsy on the victim is scheduled to be carried out at the GBI Crime Lab to determine the specifics of Harper's death.
As is standard procedure in such serious cases, once the investigation by the GBI concludes, the findings will be handed over to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
