A Gainesville man was arrested over the weekend and charged with six counts of felony aggravated assault after allegedly firing a weapon toward a minivan on April 1 on Mountain Crest Road.
According to B.J. Williams, public information officer with the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Aurelio Hernandez-Valle, 36, remained in the Hall County Jail Tuesday afternoon following his arrest on Saturday.
His charges stem from an incident that happened on April 1 at about 8 p.m. at 569 Mountain Crest Road. The victims in the incident -- six people ranging in age from adults to children -- were in a minivan waiting to meet some friends at the location. The spot is often used as a neighborhood playing field, according to Williams.
That's when Valle allegedly approached the vehicle and told the driver to move. The driver told Valle he would move the vehicle momentarily, but the suspect became angry, walked across the street and fired a gun at the van. However, Williams said the bullet did not hit the van. No one inside the van was injured. Investigators said they do not believe the two parties know each other.
Deputies later found a shell casing in the same area where the van had been parked.
Investigators were able to identify Valle as the suspect in the case and issued warrants for his arrest. Deputies then conducted a follow-up check on Valle's address on McConnell Drive on April 15, where they found him hiding in a crawl space at the residence and arrested him.
Williams said Margarita Flores, 35, who also lived in the home on McConnell Drive, initially told deputies she did not know who Valle was and denied authorities entry into the home. Flores was also arrested and charged with hindering the apprehension or punishment of a criminal. She later posted bond. Williams said authorities do not believe Flores was connected in any way to the shooting.
Valle was charged with obstruction of an officer during his arrest. He was also charged with methamphetamine possession when officers at the jail found a small amount of illegal drugs in a baggie and a dollar bill with drug residue inside his wallet.
