Paulding Shootout Reveals Pot-Growing Operation: Police

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — One man has been shot and two have been arrested after a Monday afternoon shootout which revealed a pot-growing operation, according to the Paulding County Sheriff's Office. The victim who was shot was taken to the hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.

Rickey Allen Kilgore, 62, and Meloney Shirley, 60, were arrested at 8478 Dallas Acworth Highway, in Dallas, after deputies responded to an appearant land dispute regarding property lines. Kilgore, a resident of the home, was fighting with two neighbors who were there to mark some property lines, according to police.

As the verbal altercation got heated, Kilgore went into the home and returned with a hammer of some sort threatening the neighbors, police reported. Kilgore then went back into the home and retrieved a rifle and began firing rounds at the two people, striking one of them in the leg. In the midst of the incident, the other person, who had not been shot, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and returned fire. Kilgore then went back into the home and got a shotgun and began firing more rounds at the two people who were pinned down behind vehicles.

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When deputies arrived, they took everyone into custody, they secured the location and all of the weapons. Detectives and agents with the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force then executed the search warrant to search the home. That search revealed an indoor marijuana growing operation inside the mobile home. Detectives and agents also collected evidence pertinent to the incident along with several firearms.

Police said more charges could be made but, for now,they have charged Kilgore and Shirley with the following:

Kilgore:
-Aggravated Assault (F) 2 counts
-Aggravated Battery (F)
-Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime (F) 2 counts
-Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F)
-Criminal Damage to Property 1st Degree (F)
-VGCSA Manufacturing Marijuana (F)
-VGCSA Possession of Marijuana (F)

Shirley:
-VGCSA Manufacturing Marijuana (F)
-VGCSA Possession of Marijuana (F)

Police said that a traffic accident that occurred in the area north of the scene which was not directly related to the incident at 8478 Dallas Acworth Highway.

Detectives need the help of anyone in the public who may have been passing the area of 8478 Dallas Acworth Highway between 2:45 and 3:10 p.m. Monday. If you have any information about this incident, call detectives at 770-443-3015.

RELATED: Man, Vehicles Shot In Paulding County Monday: Police

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