Security guard accused of accidentally shooting driver while drunk
SNELLVILLE, Ga. January 5 2019— An armed security guard has been charged after he accidentally shot the man driving him to work Thursday morning.
The shooting happened around 11 a.m. in the 2400 block of East Main Street.
The Snellville Police Department said that 33-year-old Kenneth Hazel of Lithonia was in the passenger seat of a car being driven by 21-year-old Zavian Brooks of the same city when Hazel reached for his firearm in the back seat.
At some point during that action, police believe Hazel’s gun went off striking Brooks in the abdomen.
First responders with the Gwinnett County Fire Department took Brooks to Gwinnett Medical Center for treatment of his injury. He was reportedly conscious and talking to police and fire crews as he was headed to the hospital. Brooks defended his passenger claiming that the shooting wasn’t intentional.
Still, Hazel now faces charges for firing the gun since police determined he was under the influence of alcohol at the time the gun went off. He was booked into the Gwinnett County jail on the charge after the preliminary investigation.
Snellville police don’t intend to release further information about the crime due to the pending prosecution.
11Alive
