Gwinnett’s mother died after a stray bullet went through a wall. His neighbor will serve 8 months

A man will serve eight months in prison after his neighbor was shot and killed in their apartment complex three years ago.

On September 25, 2021, Carlether Foley died after a stray bullet passed through a wall and struck her in the head while she was lying down.

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Police charged Maxwell Williamson, Foley’s neighbor. An investigation revealed that Williamson was cleaning his gun when it accidentally discharged.

The Gwinnett County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that a jury found Williamson guilty of misdemeanor manslaughter and reckless driving.

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The jury heard testimony from investigators about a note Williamson placed on Foley’s apartment door instead of calling police.

Foley’s son later found his mother’s body and called 911.

“He was very hysterical,” Foley’s brother George said. Channel 2 Action News in 2021. “It scared him. He said he entered the room but did not turn on the light. He called his mother and she didn’t answer.

A judge sentenced Williamson to eight months in prison, along with 16 months of probation.

“This defendant’s reckless actions left a teenage son without his mother and the teenager’s grandmother without her only daughter,” said Gwinnett DA Patsy Austin-Gatson. “It is vitally important that gun owners handle and store their weapons responsibly. There must be accountability when gun owners are irresponsible and innocent victims are harmed.

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