The man wanted for questioning in connection with Saturday’s shooting incident at United Community Bank in Cornelia is in jail.
Sterling Strength was arrested Sunday by the Banks County Sheriff’s Office and is facing numerous charges from multiple agencies, Cornelia Police Department reports.
Just before 11:15 Saturday morning, Cornelia police responded to reported shots fired in the lot beside United Community Bank on Level Grove Road at U.S. 441.
When officers arrived, they learned the shooting took place over a stolen vehicle.
“Apparently a family member saw the vehicle traveling on Level Grove Road or somewhere in that area and called the owner and the owner apparently told them to stay with the vehicle,” Police Chief Jonathan Roberts said. “The vehicle pulled into the side parking lot where the peanut stand is at United Community Bank and the wife of the owner of the vehicle showed up and made contact with the male driver that was driving the stolen vehicle.”
That woman has been identified as Mary Sheriff Welborn.
“At some point, words were exchanged,” Roberts said. “There’s accusations of a firearm being brandished and then the female owner of the vehicle discharged her firearm while the stolen vehicle was fleeing the scene.”
Roberts said officers and investigators are continuing to receive information from people who were in the area at the time of Saturday’s incident, including cell phone footage recorded by some witnesses.
“There was no one struck by the gunfire,” Roberts said. “I believe at this time we’ve recovered six shell casings, so as of right now my understanding is there was six discharges of a firearm. Now we’re not sure if that was out of one firearm or out of both, but we have recovered six shell casings and one of the firearms. The other firearm actually is believed to have been in the truck at the time it was stolen.”
Roberts said aside from self-defense, people should allow law enforcement personnel to confront those suspected of committing a crime.
“Hindsight being 20/20, I would hope that people that are following the story on Facebook and different media outlets understand that this is what law enforcement is for,” Roberts said. “This could have been handled in a completely different fashion. Law enforcement was on the way when the call for shots fire came out. Bank employees had actually called 9-1-1, so within just a few moments law enforcement would have been on scene anyway.”
Roberts said there was great potential for innocent people to be hurt in Saturday’s armed confrontation.
“We’re just very, very fortunate and grateful that no one was struck by stray bullets,” Roberts said.
Among those who was at risk was the peanut vendor, who was only feet away when shots were fired.
“She was kind of in the middle of things and had really nothing to do with it other than just trying to sell peanuts,” Roberts said. “That also is very concerning, and as the investigation continues information like that as we wrap the totality of the circumstance up, that’s really going to base the decision for the investigators of what kind of charges and who to charge.”
Welborn was questioned by police following the incident.
“We took the female that did the shooting to the police department, and we conducted an interview with her, and then there were several persons that were identified as being passengers in the stolen vehicle that actually jumped out and ran when the shooting started. There were four females and one male passenger. They all exited the vehicles and we’ve been able to locate two of the females.”
Police identified those females as Tiana Parker and Michelle Robertson. An unidentified female and Shawn Harkness also were in the truck and fled on foot, according to police.
The stolen truck was recovered by sheriff’s deputies on Straight Street in Cornelia and was taken to the sheriff’s office pending a search warrant.
Roberts said he appreciates the public’s patience as investigators continue to work the complex case.
“We’re conducting a slow investigation because we want to make sure all the bases are covered,” Roberts said.
Information can be sent anonymously to (706) 894-3077.
