A Georgia woman was arrested and charged after she allegedly pointed a gun at two Black boys who were riding their bikes near her property.
According to 13 WMAZ, 52-year-old Patricia Compton was charged with aggravated assault, child cruelty and making terroristic threats on Monday (Nov. 23) after she pointed her gun at 12-year-old Kaleb Barnes and 13-year-old Ethan Hollis.
On Sunday afternoon (Nov. 22), the young boys were riding their bikes in a subdivision where they frequently visit. They said they heard different animal noises and wanted to go investigate. “We started hearing animal noises like goats and ducks, so we were gonna go check it out, so we went there to go check it out,” said Barnes.
They were then approached by Compton, who drove directly up to her property and pointed a firearm at the two boys. “My friend Ethan started running and I just stood there and said, ‘Don’t shoot, don’t shoot, I’m a kid,’ and I tripped on those rocks,” said Barnes.
Hollis then ran to the home of Barnes’ grandparents. Venita Kennedy, Barnes’ grandmother, went to Compton’s property and started recording the entire incident on Facebook Live. “When the officer was explaining the law to her, she then told the officer that if the kids had approached her, she would have shot them. This is what we’re dealing with,” said Kennedy.
Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese says Compton cannot claim self-defense because she was not in any danger. “The basics of it is you have to feel threatened that somebody’s about to do you serious bodily injury or death or serious damage to property,” said the sheriff.
He also said that the altercation happened during the day and the children did not have any weapons. Compton should have waited for law enforcement to arrive.