Georgia woman faces new charges in killing of hit-and-run driver
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Clayton County, just southeast of downtown Atlanta, Ga. A Georgia woman accused of chasing down and killing a hit-and-run driver is facing new felony charges.
ATLANTA >> A Georgia woman accused of chasing down and killing a hit-and-run driver is facing new felony charges.
Hannah Payne, 22, was indicted on charges including felony murder and malice murder after a grand jury reviewed the case Wednesday, news outlets reported.
She is accused of killing 62-year-old Kenneth Herring in Clayton County, just southeast of downtown Atlanta, on May 7.
Payne witnessed a crash between a car driven by Herring and another vehicle, police said. Herring tried to leave the scene, so Payne followed him and blocked his path with her car, authorities said. An altercation between the two ended with Payne shooting Herring in the stomach, police said.
Clayton County Police Maj. Anthony Thuman previously said the hit-and-run crash didn’t cause extensive damage and that Payne was licensed to carry a gun.
Payne called 911 during the incident and was told by dispatchers not to follow or engage the hit-and-run driver. But she ignored those instructions.
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She was initially charged with murder without malice and was later released on $100,000 bond. The new charges mean she will be rearrested.
Herring’s family has said they believe he might have been having a medical issue and not realized an accident had occurred.
Payne’s attorney, Matt Tucker, has said that Payne fired in self-defense.
