Crime & Safety
Shooting Victim Still Unable to Speak With Authorities, Sheriff's Office Says
The Oconee County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate Sunday's shooting in the southern part of the county, while investigators wait to question man who was shot by his brother-in-law.
Oconee County autorities are waiting to southern Oconee County.
Family witnesses reported the brother-in-law, Brian Bowden, 31, acted in self-defense when he shot 32-year-old Eric Hester. On Friday, Hester was still recovering from his wounds at Athens Regional Medical Center and wasn't well enough for investigators to question him, Oconee County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Lee Weems said.
"We have not been able to speak with the other individual (Hester) in the shooting," Weems said. "We have to take into account his medical condition."
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Though they've heard Bowden's and witnesses' accounts of the incident, authorities still need to take a statement from Hester to complete the investigation, Weems said.
Bowden told investigators he shot Hester after he threatened others and attempted to stab him with a knife in his home in the 1100 block of Watson Springs Road on Sunday.