Columbia County deputies arrested a business owner after he fired a ‘warning shot’ in the air to break up a fight.
According to the report, June Soukon, 23, attempted to leave Toki on 362 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez on Aug 22 without paying for his food. Soukon had called a cab, but his friend, Leon Panuelo, approached the cab, took Soukon’s phone and told him he could have it back once he paid for the rice.
Once Soukon paid for the rice and Panuelo returned the phone, the two men decided “to step outside so they could ‘settle’ the situation,” according to a police report. “They both went outside and began mutual combat.”
James Ferrell, a 56-year-old business owner two doors down from Toki, attempted to break up the fight. After he was unsuccessful, Ferrell fired one shot in the air, which resulted in the two men separating according to the report.
Soukon immediately fled the scene in the cab. Panuelo was transported to Columbia County Detention Center and was charged with affray.
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Columbia County Deputy Anderson later performed a traffic stop on the cab and found Soukon close to the incident. Soukon attempted to give false name, but eventually admitted his actual name according to the report. Soukon was arrested and charged with giving a false name and affray. He also had two active warrants through the sheriff’s office according to the report.
Ferrell, who fired the gun to break up the fight, was charged with reckless conduct for discharging a firearm in a populated area and near a roadway. The gun in possession of Ferrell and found to be fired was a .22 caliber revolver according to the report.
According to Georgia law, “It shall be unlawful for any person, without legal justification, to discharge a firearm on or within 50 yards of a public highway.
“The law does not apply when a firearm is discharged within 50 yards of a public highway, if the discharge is shielded from view and occurs at an indoor or outdoor sport shooting range, facilities used for firearm or hunting safety courses sponsored by a unit of government, nonprofit corporation, or commercial enterprise, or the business location of any person, firm, retail dealer, wholesale dealer, pawnbroker or corporation licensed as a firearm dealer.”
Any person who is convicted of discharging a firearm on or near a public highway will be charged with a misdemeanor. The punishment can include a fine up to $1,000, one year of jail time or both according to Georgia Law.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
