A Clarkesville man faces charges after admitting to police he fired a handgun following an argument with a jogger near the Clarkesville Greenway Trail Sunday morning.
Robert Aloysius Kilgore, 78, of Clarkesville is charged with one felony count each of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm or knife during certain crimes, and a misdemeanor count of reckless conduct, Habersham County Detention Center records show.
“On Sunday, March 14, at approximately 11:08 a.m., Clarkesville Police Department received notice of shots fired in the area of the Clarkesville Greenway Walking Trail near the vicinity of the Old Clarkesville Mill and the Soque Village neighborhood,” said Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett.
When officers arrived, they met with a 69-year-old man who said he was approached by a resident of Soque Village, later identified as Kilgore, who told him he was not allowed to be in the subdivision because it is a private street.
“The complainant reports that he responded by telling Mr. Kilgore that he would be back the following day,” Barrett said. “The complainant further reports that he continued jogging and left the subdivision by entering into the Clarkesville Greenway Trail area. While there, he states he observed Mr. Kilgore drive down into the trail area in a pick-up truck. The victim alleges that Mr. Kilgore exited his vehicle and confronted him again and stated that he wanted to talk to him. The complainant reports that he responded by stating, ‘catch me if you can’. The complainant alleges that Mr. Kilgore then drew a handgun and pointed it in his direction.”
The man told police he told Kilgore to put down the gun, then Kilgore discharged it.
“Mr. Kilgore did admit to firing the firearm, but states that he aimed the handgun 30 to 40 feet to the right of the complainant,” Barrett said. “Due to the allegations brought forth by the complainant, Mr. Kilgore was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm of persons above the age of 65 years of age, reckless conduct by discharging a firearm in a public area, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime against another.”
No injuries were reported.
Kilgore was released from jail on a $5,800 bond.
