ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia sheriff is under investigation after he critically injured a woman in a shooting in an Atlanta suburb, police said.

Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill shot the woman in the abdomen at a model home in a subdivision in Gwinnett County on Sunday, according to police.

He was released from the scene after refusing to speak with investigators about what happened, Gwinnett police said in a statement.

The shooting was reported to police as accidental and Hill has not been charged, the statement said.

The woman was taken a hospital in critical condition, police said.

Hill was re-elected as sheriff in 2012 despite his indictment on corruption charges that included racketeering. A jury acquitted him in 2013, according to Clayton County court records.

Hill’s office did not immediately respond with comment early on Monday.

(Reporting by David Beasley; Editing by Colleen Jenkins)



hmmmm, accidentally shoots someone, then is allowed to leave the scene after REFUSING to speak to investigators. how the hell does that work? more evidence of cops being above the law. i wonder if i accidentally shot someone if police would let me just leave the scene while refusing to speak to investigators. and if he accidentally shot her, why was his weapon drawn in the first place?

Well the sheriff is simply using his constitutional right to be silent. IF you ever find yourself in the situation where you have shot someone you 1) Call 911 2) Render first aid 3) ID yourself to the cops as the shooter. 4) Surrender your weapon if asked. 5)Then you SHUT THE **** UP and tell the cops you want your lawyer. No matter how friendly they attempt to be, or identify with your plight to gather information. SHUT UP. Again simply say you want your lawyer.

Since people are generally untrained in a formal way in the use of deadly force, they feel compelled to just start blabbering about why they did it, what he did, what you did, they literally hang themselves. Remember, after you have been read your rights, anything you say can be used as evidence in court.

You can always apologize to the cops after you speak with your lawyer. Something along the lines of "Sorry guys/ladies but I've never shot anyone before and didn't know what to do. My lawyer says I can talk with you now, so I hope you'll accept my apology."

Some suggestions.1) If possible try to retain the same law firm used by the police themselves to represent officers in shooting cases.2) Take formal instruction in how to use a weapon effectively and legally where you live. 3) Practice, practice, and then when you have some spare time, practice.

yea i understand the whole right to be silent thing, but if it was you or me do you think we would just be released with no charges? highly doubt it. and why was his weapon drawn in the first place and pointed at her?

I'm with Tomato here, a "regular" person would be held - most likely without bond - indefinitely.

Though obviously this Sheriff needs more training - if you're going to shoot someone, don't leave them alive to testify. I'd make that (4) on Mike's list behind "practice."

Wont be no Al or Jesse at this one....

exactly just more evidence of cops being above the law.. if that was any of us, we wouldnt be walking away from the scene.

I do agree with you....sorta. The guy was an actual sherriff, not a deputy, correct? County Sheriffs weild a ton of power.....not saying I agree with that....just how it is.

yea he is a sherrif.

i would think they would know where to find the the sheriff if they needed to...

still though. hypothetical what if he knew he was in the wrong and she suddenly passes and he decides to run?

same as anyone else, they would do a manhunt, except they would have more info on the sheriff...

Not to mention that it wasn't even in the county in which he has jurisdiction..

Something is not kosher here..

was thinking the same thing.