College student shot, paralyzed in case of mistaken identity

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A 20-year-old college student was paralyzed by a gunshot when he came to assist his relatives after someone shot at their home.

The family put up surveillance cameras after they say shooters repeatedly opened fire on their home or cars.

Their surveillance video shows their nephew mistakenly getting shot as he pulled up right after the shooters left the scene.

"And they fired looks like at least one or two each. I'm not sure," the homeowner said.

A mother says her sons began shooting at a car she says had driven by and fired on her home Sunday night.

Seconds later, the video shows the mother's nephew pulling up.

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“And he was coming up so fast and he came to a screeching halt in front of the driveway,” the homeowner said.

She says her husband and children thought he was one of the drive-by shooters.

“And my husband fired three more shots, probably thinking he was another car,” the homeowner said.

The nephew crashed and he was hit in the spine and is paralyzed.

“I believe he was coming hoping he could get the license plate,” the homeowner said.

The family members say they were defending themselves and trying to get evidence to turn over to police after their home or cars were hit by gunfire five other times in the last year.

They couldn't figure out who or why until they saw a young man in an SUV similar to the one witnesses say left the scene of one of the shootings.

“This young man happened to be the boyfriend of the girl my son had a situation with five years prior,” the homeowner said.

The family say police arrested him after the shooting.

Her husband wasn't arrested.

She says the shootings have left them in fear, and now they are dealing with a nephew whose life has been changed forever.

“I just wish it didn't have to come to this,” the homeowner said.

We're still waiting on police to get back to us about this shooting and an arrest in this case.

Meantime, this family says they believe there are other accomplices who's haven't been arrested and they urge police to catch them before anyone else gets hurt.

Cox Media Group