Authorities are now investigating the case of an Alzheimer’s patient who got shot multiple times causing his death in Georgia. The Ooltewah man involved is not yet charged of any case under the protection of the “stand-on-your-ground” state law.
According to Chatanooga Times, Joe Hendrix, 34, Ooltewah was awakened by Ronald Westbrook, 22, Walker County, at 3:54 a.m who rang the doorbell and turned the doorknob. The former fired four shots with his 0.40-caliber handgun with a shot in the chest ending the old man’s life. He defended that his actions claiming that he did it to protect himself and his fiancée. The couple was very cooperative with the investigation.
Prior to the gunshot incident, Sheriff Steve Wilson saw Westbrook on Wednesday at 2:30 a.m holding some letters he took from the mailbox of his previous home in Marbletop Road. He noticed that the old man seemed lost, confused, and exhausted after walking about four hours with his two dogs. He asked the old man of his business in the middle of the night and was told that he was just getting letters.
Hendrix’s fiancée immediately called 911 and waited for the two sheriffs to get to their house. They explained that 10 minutes before Westbrook was shot, they asked the old man of his intentions. Hearing no response, Hendrix warned him to stay on his ground but did not adhere. They were not aware that the old man has Alzheimer’s.
The couple drove away 10:30 a.m when the investigators were almost done with the evidence gathering.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation lab in Atlanta has scheduled an autopsy for Westbrook on Saturday, according to ABC News. They will also be reviewing the evidences from the shooting scene and will be conducting interviews. The investigators believe that Hendrix should have just stayed in the house since they have already called 911 when they saw Westbrook on their front door; however, he still went out and shot the old man.
