An unidentified Georgia woman is in critical condition after, authorities say, she was shot by Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill around 7 p.m. Sunday, 11Alive.com reports.
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The incident took place at a model home in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, according to Gwinnett County Police Sgt. Brian Doan, who called the shooting “accidental.”
The woman, who is reportedly a friend of Hill’s, is a real estate agent with Paran Realty. She was rushed to Gwinnett Medical Center with a gunshot wound to her abdomen, the Associated Press reports. Hill, who was allegedly at the scene with the woman and two potential homebuyers, refused to give a statement or to cooperate with authorities in any way, according to the report.
Because he is an acting sheriff, Hill was allowed to leave the scene and no charges have been filed against him. A search warrant was issued for the home where the shooting took place, and the weapon used was recovered at the scene. It is unclear whether the gun is Hill’s personal weapon or his county-issued gun, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
“Sheriffs can be charged,” Doan said. “But when you’re an active and sitting sheriff, there are things that have to be done before you can be charged with a crime.”
In 2012 Hill was re-elected sheriff of Clayton County despite having faced 27 felony corruption charges, ranging from racketeering to theft by taking and making false statements. According to Hill’s defense attorney in that case, Drew Findling, he had the right to “use county vehicles, credit cards and take pleasure trips with former female employees, including to gambling casinos, because he was sheriff 24/7, 365 days a year and was always on call,” 11Alive reported in 2013.
The jury sided with Hill and he was acquitted of 25 charges, with the remaining two being thrown out.
Whether Hill will be charged in Sunday’s shooting, and what remains of his career, are both unknown.
According to Clayton Commission Chairman Jeff Turner, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is the only one who can remove Hill from office.
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