HARALSON COUNTY, GA- Two men are in the hospital recovering after an incident on Sunday afternoon left them both wounded and another man behind bars. What started off as a day of friends having fun in the rural Georgia woods soon turned to a case of mistaken identity that left two of the friends injured and a suspect that thought he was helping out a friend behind bars.
According to the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 12:12 p.m., deputies were called the area of Eaves Bridge Road and Garner Road in reference to a person being shot. Responding deputies arrived to the scene and located two male victims suffering from gunshot injuries.
Officials say the first victim was unconscious and had appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to the neck. The second victim was alert when deputies arrived and able to speak to deputies briefly before he began to lose consciousness. Deputies say the second victim appeared to have sustained an injury to the head. First responders worked to stabilize the victims.
Haralson County officials were able to learn that the two victims had been riding around in a truck on dirt roads. While on the dirt roads a male appeared and began chasing after the two victims on an ATV and fired a gunshot at the duo. The two victims were able to hide in the woods nearby and get away from the ATV operator. After hiding for some time, the two men attempted to leave the area, but found the roadway ahead had been blocked by the ATV operator. The ATV operator fired additional shots at the men according to deputies. One of those shots struck the driver of the truck and resulted in him losing control of the vehicle going off the road and striking a tree.
Sheriff’s Investigators were called to the scene. A short distance away from the scene a Haralson County deputy was able to observe an ATV parked down a small side road. Deputies were able to make contact with the ATV driver. The ATV driver surrendered to deputies without incident and law enforcement was able to locate the firearm they believe was used in the shooting.
The suspect was later interviewed by investigators. During the course of the interview, the suspect admitted to investigators that he had fired shots at the two young men. According to a release from the sheriff’s office the suspect admitted to deputies that he was upset when he observed the vehicle tearing up the roads and he also suspected that the truck was one that was stolen from a friend.
Deputies say that once the two young men ran and hid in the woods, the suspect took a picture of the truck and sent it to the friend whose vehicle had been stolen. That friend stated it was his vehicle. The suspect later went and blocked the road ahead to prevent the two men from leaving. While the truck was attempting to leave the area, the suspect say he fired a shot in the air and not at the truck.
The sheriff’s office has identified the suspect in the case at 41-year-old Omar Braderick Bennett, of Buchanan, Georgia. Investigators say Bennett is facing multiple charges related to the incident including aggravated assault and aggravated battery. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
“You cannot take the law into your own hands,” states Sheriff Stacy Williams. “What makes this case even worse, is that the offender waited on these boys, fired his weapon from the roadway and then left those boys there and did not even call 911 at that point to help them. If you believe that a crime is being committed, just call 911 and let us handle it. A possible stolen truck or someone being upset should never cost another person their life. Please pray for the recovery of these two young men and their families.”
Both victims have been transported to a hospital for treatment. They are listed in critical condition.
All Suspects Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty In A Court of Law.
About the Author
