Paulding Man Charged Deputy With Sword After Being Shot: Sheriff

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — A Douglasville man was hospitalized Wednesday after being shot twice, once by his neighbor and again by a sheriff's deputy, the Paulding County Sheriff's office said in a news release.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies were first sent around 10:41 a.m. to the 70 block of Julia Way in Douglasville after a woman said her neighbor, 41-year-old Richard Jeanpaul Harris, had been jiggling her front door handle, looking inside her house and yelling, the release said.

The release states deputies noted Harris seemed unstable, but he refused leave his home or speak with authorities at the scene.

Several hours later, deputies were sent to the same house after gunfire was reported at 6:11 p.m.

Authorities allege the husband of the woman who had earlier reported seeing Harris outside her door was in the front yard of the couple's home when he was attacked by Harris.

Harris then turned on the man's wife and approached her "in an aggressive manner," according to the release. The woman drew a gun and shot Harris in his leg or legs, and the man fled next door to his own home.

The sheriff's office said deputies arrived on the scene and saw a "tremendous" amount of blood outside Harris' home. When deputies and EMS workers entered and began treating his injuries, Harris picked up a sword and began swinging it at deputies, the release states.

One deputy tased Harris, the release states. When he continued to advance with his sword, another shot him. Harris was taken to a hospital by ambulance, and his condition is unknown.

The deputies involved in the incident are on administrative leave while the GBI investigates the shooting, the release states. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call investigators at (770) 443-3015 or (706) 624-1424.