DeKalb County

Tow truck driver shot while repossessing car, police say

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police say a car owner shot a tow truck driver who was trying to repossess his car Tuesday morning.

Channel 2's Kristen Holloway  was on Rockbridge Road in DeKalb County, where the shooting happened in front of a house. Neighbors told Holloway they woke up to the sound of gunfire.

Police said the tow truck driver was trying to repossess a decade-old Pontiac SUV that didn't even run.

Two tow truck drivers had just hooked up the SUV in the home's diveway when Joshua Hardeman, who owned the Pontiac, pulled up.

The men argued and Hardeman went to his car to get a gun, police said.

Police said Hardeman then fired multiple times and shot the repo man, who was pulling away. Hardeman also shot himself in the foot and appeared to have shot out his own car's windows.

Neighbors were on edge after the scary incident.

"I heard the gunshots" Augusta Woods said. "I heard in between like, five and eight shots. My sister's room is on the back side and she heard all of it... So yeah, that was scary."

A bullet struck the tow truck driver in the neck. He was able to make it to a nearby gas station to get help.

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Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach was at the scene early Tuesday morning when detectives took the gun from the front of the house.

Wood said hearing a shooting in her own neighborhood was worrisome.

"It's kind of scary because it's so close," Woods said. "You live in a neighborhood or area where you feel pretty much safe, but things happen. I was glad nobody else outside was hurt and the bullets didn't come through anybody's home."

Hardeman has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault.

A passenger in the tow truck told Holloway it was his first day on the job as a trainee.