Investigation Ongoing Into Lavonia Shooting Death

By WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Investigators in Franklin County have released the names of the persons involved in the shooting at Pointe South Mobile Home Park in Lavonia over the weekend.

The shooting occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas said that officers were called to that location on a report of shots fired.

Thomas said that when officers arrived, they found one person dead of multiple gunshot wounds.

He identified that person as Qwalon Lemont Johnson of Lavonia.

Meanwhile, Thomas said the incident occurred at the residence of Edward Burtch in the Pointe South Mobile Home Park and Burtch was identified as the gunman.

According to Thomas, Burtch was transported to the Franklin County Sheriffs office for questioning.

Thomas said in that investigation, it was revealed that Burtch returned to his home after an argument with Johnson in the Springview Heights neighborhood of Lavonia.

He went on to say that Burtch says Johnson arrived later that evening at Burtch’s home and made uninvited entry into the residence armed with brass knuckles, at which time there was apparently an altercation and shots were fired.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigators collected two firearms at the scene and interviewed witnesses through Sunday evening into Monday morning.

Sheriff Thomas said Burtch has cooperated fully with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White said that Burtch was released Monday afternoon without charges being filed.

White said an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday at the GBI Crime Lab and the investigation is still ongoing.

According to White, once the investigation is complete, the case file will be sent to the District Attorney’s office for consideration of possible charges.