A woman is in stable but critical condition after she was shot and found inside a vehicle outside a Luthersville convenience store Sunday evening, and a Greenville man is now behind bars in connection with the case. Authorities say the gunfire erupted in the parking lot of the Sunoco known locally as Gentry’s Country Store, and investigators have stressed there is no broader threat to the public.
What happened
Deputies responded to a 911 call around 6:48 p.m. and found a woman inside a car with a gunshot wound to the head. Meriwether County Fire Rescue and EMS treated her at the scene, then she was airlifted to an Atlanta-area trauma center, according to a press release from Sheriff Chuck Smith as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. Investigators have called the shooting an isolated, domestic-related incident and said there was never an ongoing danger to others in the area. Sheriff Smith noted that, "Our investigators were able to make an arrest after gathering items of evidentiary value and determine what had occurred."
Arrest and charges
Authorities arrested 41-year-old Deshontae Chairman Clements of Greenville and charged him with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, per FOX 5 Atlanta. Clements was being held without bond at the Meriwether County Jail, and the sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active and additional charges could still be filed.
Investigation and how to help
The sheriff's office said investigators reviewed surveillance video, executed search warrants and collected evidence as the case moved quickly from the scene into follow-up interviews and checks at the hospital. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Meriwether County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at (706) 672-4489, according to Meriwether County.
Local context
The shooting comes on the heels of other high-profile incidents in Meriwether County in recent years, including a 2024 drive-by shooting at a county gas station that led to multiple arrests, as reported by Atlanta News First. Business listings identify the scene as the Sunoco/Gentry’s Country Store at MapQuest in Luthersville. Authorities continue to emphasize that this case appears to be isolated while they focus on evidence from the scene and follow-up interviews as the criminal case moves forward.
