Toccoa resident arrested in connection with Hill Place gunfire

Jake Eligh Vanesse, 19, of Toccoa, is in custody after local police officers responded to a report of gunfire in Toccoa yesterday.

On July 20, at approximately 4:15, officers with the Toccoa Police Department were dispatched to South Hill Street in Toccoa in reference to shots fired. 

Upon arrival, officers met with the complainant who stated someone was shooting a firearm from Hill Place. 

Further investigation led officers to believe that Jake Eligh Vanesse, 19, of Toccoa, was the person shooting the firearm from a residence on Hill Place. 

At the residence, investigators found three bullet holes in the house. 

A BOLO was issued for the suspect’s vehicle, and later in the day, a Lavonia Police Department Officer performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and the suspect was taken into custody.

Officers from the Toccoa Police Department responded to Lavonia, and, after speaking to the owner of the vehicle, officers recovered some evidence used in the shooting. 

The gun used in the shooting was later recovered at a separate address in Lavonia. 

Officers secured the weapon and, after checking the serial number, discovered that the firearm had been reported stolen from Stephens County. 

Vanesse was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Vanesse was transported to Stephens County Jail without further incident.