Friday March 29th, 2024 4:04AM

Man on bond defies protective order, allegedly shoots victim’s occupied vehicle near Carnesville

CARNESVILLE — A Franklin County man who was out on bond for serious Family Violence Act offenses in October now faces additional serious charges after a shooting incident Wednesday afternoon.

“On Nov. 29, around 2:30 p.m., investigators were alerted by a female victim who had fled the scene of a shooting,” Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas said. “The female victim was able to flee the scene without injury on Jackson Bridge Road and drove to the [Criminal Investigations Division] building in Carnesville. Once there, the victim provided information of what had occurred at the address. Investigators learned that the vehicle that the victim was driving had multiple gunshots to the exterior.”

That information was relayed to the Franklin County 9-1-1 Center, who provided the information to area law enforcement personnel.

In addition to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Patrol Division, the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and state probation officers responded and established a perimeter around the Jackson Bridge Road house where the incident occurred.

The suspect was identified as Ronald Tracy McClure, 53, of Lavonia.

McClure and the unnamed victim had resided together at the Jackson Bridge Road address before the October incident that led to charges for which McClure was out on a $22,000 bond.

“McClure is believed to have been residing in the Royston-Franklin Springs area and was stalking the victim throughout the afternoon of Nov. 29,” Thomas said.

“The investigation revealed that Ronald McClure used a firearm and fired multiple times at the vehicle of the victim as she was leaving the residence,” Thomas said. “A superior court family violence protective order was issued and served on Ronald Tracy McClure in October 2017. Law Enforcement has a history with McClure with a recent arrest in October 2017 for aggravated assault under FVA, battery under FVA, theft by receiving, and possession of a firearm by convicted felon.

Law enforcement personnel alerted the school system of the active manhunt, and officers responded to the area of the schools as a precaution since the incident location was 2.3 miles from Franklin County High School.

Canine tracking teams from Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto and a helicopter from the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division aided in the apprehension of McClure.

“At 3:15 p.m. [Wednesday], Ronald Tracy McClure was taken into custody without incident,” Thomas said. “McClure surrendered to law enforcement after canine tracking teams located him behind the Jackson Bridge residence. McClure was attempting to conceal himself in the nearby wooded area just yards away from the residence.”

Investigators processed the crime scene and conducted interviews and “collected valuable evidence in the case that links McClure to the aggravated assault and aggravated stalking incident,” Thomas said.

McClure is being held at the Franklin County Detention Center, and formal criminal charges are expected to be finalized by today, Dec. 1.

Once those charges are finalized and McClure’s first appearance hearing has concluded, Thomas will provide further details of the ongoing case.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: GSP, shooting, Georgia State Patrol, franklin county, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, arrest, Lee Arrendale State Prison K-9 Unit, Georgia State Patrol Aviation, manhunt, domestic dispute, GSP Aviation, Family Violence Act
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