Butts County home owner shoots intruders
By Jennifer Griffies
Butts County, GA —
Four people who tried to break into a home in Butts County on Wednesday got a little more than they bargained for.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long tells WSB the four suspects apparently were interested in some marijuana believed to be in the house.
"It appears that there was a female and three black males. They put on bandanas across their face, they went to the back door to break into the house. The homeowner heard them, the female there. She comes around the corner and they're kicking the door to try and come in and she fires one shot," said Long.
One of the suspects,Cornelius Williams, 19, a student at Jasper High School, was shot near the right eye. A second suspect, Frank Milligan, also 19, and also a Jasper High School student, was hit in the head with shrapnel. A third suspect, Louis Ross, 25, broke his leg when he jumped off the back porch trying to escape. The female suspect, Ashley Eiland, 29, who Long says had picked the boys up from high school, has been charged with criminal attempt to commit burglary.
When the three get out of the hospital, they'll be arrested.
Catching the suspects was also easy. Sheriff Long says after they were hurt, they drove to the sheriff's office for help.
"I seen a silver car stop on Highway 16 and two males exited the vehicle and come running into the secure area of the sheriff's office. So of course, I went out to see what was going on and they both had gunshot wounds to the head. We started treating them and then we received a 911 call in reference to a homeowner firing on some intruders that was coming into the house," said Long.
The homeowner, Tia Poole, 18, will not face charges. Her boyfriend however, Justin Etheridge, 26, has been charged with possession of marijuana.
