More Charges Levelled Against Road Rage Suspect

More charges have been filed against a Toccoa man authorities say is responsible for a road rage shooting last week on the 17 Bypass.

60-year old Arthur Thomas Downs III, is now charged with aggravated assault, 9 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony obstruction, discharging a firearm at or near a public roadway, DUI, driving without a drivers license, and other traffic violations.

The incident happened last Friday, May 3rd on the 17 Bypass, according to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley

“911 received a call from one of the victims that a green dual cab pick up truck carrying a pontoon was shooting indiscriminately,” the Sheriff said.

This week, the Sheriff released more details on the shooting.

He said Downs was allegedly traveling south behind an 18-wheeler on the Highway 17 bypass near Cawthon Road.

“As the shooter passed the 18-wheeler on the bypass before the Liberty Hill Road intersection, he pulled his pick up to the side of the road near the Highway 145 intersection, got out and started shooting at the driver of the 18-wheeler,” Shirley said. “Two of the shots struck the tractor trailer.”

The driver of the semi stopped near the intersection of Highway 145 and 17 bypass, and witnesses who saw the shooting called 911.

“As he traveled south on the Bypass towards the Walmart  he made a right onto Highway traveling towards Eastanollee,” the Sheriff said. “At that time, one of the victims who was following him called 911 and gave detailed locations of where Downs was at in the hopes that law enforcement would catch up to the individual.”

But because the witness wasn’t familiar with the rural county roads, the Sheriff said he soon lost the suspect while in the Davis Road area.

Sheriff Shirley said a volunteer Firefighter, and a Juvenile Probation Officer called him almost simultaneously to let him know they had a good idea of who law enforcement was looking for and gave the Sheriff an address.

At that residence, deputies using a search warrant, uncovered the truck and the pontoon boat.

Downs had left the house in another vehicle, but when he returned home, deputies were waiting for him and he was arrested without incident.

Downs is being held in the Stephens County Jail awaiting a bond hearing before a Superior Court Judge.

“On behalf of the men and women of the SCSO, we would like to extend our thanks to chief Mize and his Officers, Sgt. Chad Johnson and trooper’s from the Toccoa Post, and all the citizen participation that we received which resulted in the identity of the suspect, and where he lived,” Sheriff Shirley said. “I am grateful for the close working relationship we share with our partners in public safety. Each agency; 911 Dispatch, the Georgia State Patrol ( GSP), Toccoa Police, City and County Firefighters, Stephens Co. EMS, and the Sheriff’s Office, play an important role in our community, from saving lives to assisting each of the aforementioned incident.”