Alleged Assault Leads to One Arrest

One person is under arrest after a fight over the weekend ended with someone in the hospital.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said it happened Sunday afternoon at a home on Defoor Road.

“Deputies responded and two brothers had gotten into a fight that escalated into one of them pulling a knife,” said Shirley. “There were several stab wounds, as well as severe lacerations to one of the brothers. He was taken to Stephens County Hospital, where he went into surgery. It was not a life-threatening injury, but he was admitted to Stephens County Hospital.”

Shirley said that during the investigation, it was determined that 21-year-old Shawn Hardman of Defoor Road in Toccoa, had gotten into a verbal altercation with his stepbrother that turned violent as the two men began fighting.

According to the sheriff, Hardman then drew a folding knife and began repeatedly stabbing his stepbrother.

The stepbrother reportedly received treatment at the hospital for multiple puncture wounds to the back and one large laceration to his left side.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Shirley said that Hardman has been charged with Aggravated Assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act.

Shirley said Hardman was being held at the Stephens County Jail without bond at last report, pending a first appearance hearing.