The Hall County Sheriff’s Office was one of several agencies assisting Forsyth County authorities Tuesday with a standoff and manhunt that lasted almost six hours.
According to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Stacie Miller, the series of events began about 8:30 when 911 began receiving calls about shots fired in the Kelly Mill Road-Barrett Downs neighborhood.
“While deputies were responding, a complainant advised bullets had penetrated their child’s bedroom in a neighboring house,” Miller said. “Deputies arrived and found a dispute had occurred between known parties which happened at the corner of 1628 Kelly Mill Road. Due to the severity of the call, a Shelter in Place request was sent out to citizens in the area.”
Deputies determined rounds were fired at a car during the dispute and they recovered a vehicle at a nearby business with numerous bullet holes.
They were told that the victim, James Treadwell, had fled the scene, Miller said. “Deputies found him off of Buford Dam Roadd and Nuckolls Road. He was arrested for outstanding warrants from Henry County. Deputies continued the investigation and believed that Jason Simmons, the suspect, was still possibly in the house on Kelly Mill Road.”
Forsyth County SWAT was called to the scene, and with assistance from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team, were eventually able to secure the home. “A firearm believed to be used in the shooting was recovered by deputies at the scene. Simmons was not found in the home, but deputies believed he was still in the area.”
A large-scale manhunt began with help from several state and local agencies including three K9 teams.
About 2:00, a woman reported seeing movement in her back yard and two K9 teams immediately responded and tracked down Simmons and he was arrested “without serious incident” and charged with Aggravated Assault with additional charges likely, Miller said.