UPDATE: Toccoa Shooting Suspect Charged with Multiple Counts

The man accused of shooting three people in Toccoa-Stephens County over the weekend has been charged with multiple counts.

Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize says 31-year old Antoine Demetrius Prather is charged with three counts of aggravated assault and more charges are expected.

Mize said Prather was charged after an investigation by the GBI, Toccoa Police, and the Stephens County Sheriff’s office.

According to the Chief, it all began Sunday morning when a call came in regarding shots fired at a local gas station.

“At 11:37 am the Toccoa Police Department was alerted to a shots fired call on Big A Road and Currahee St. the location was the Marathon gas station known as Buddy’s Quick Stop,” Mize said. “Police units in the area heard the shots and were on the scene in just a few short minutes. There were witnesses calling into the 911 center and giving information on the shooting. When officers arrived at the Marathon station there was one male victim. He was shot in the leg while in his vehicle. After shooting the victim, the suspect exited the parking lot and was headed out onto Currahee St.”

Mize said the victim was stabilized by Stephens Co. EMS and at 12:15 as airlifted to Gainsville to Northeast Georgia Medical Center and as of Sunday evening was listed in stable condition.

On Sunday, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley was able to provide some preliminary information on the second shooting incident in the county.

“Just after noon there was another shooting at Tony’s General Store on Highway 123 at the South Carolina line,” he said Sunday evening. “The owner and his son were inside the store. A black male entered the store shooting both victims, one in the abdomen and the other in his arm.”

Sheriff Shirley said one of the victims, who was shot in the stomach, was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville and the other was taken to Stephens County Hospital.

He said the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

He said the victims were able to give deputies a good description of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving.

“Just shortly after the shooting occurred at Tony’s General Store, the black male left and headed back towards Toccoa. They (the victims) were able to give deputies a good description of the vehicle. Once it was spotted by City police and Sheriff’s deputies, it was stopped and the suspect was arrested without incident,” he said.

According to Chief Mize, the suspect has been identified as Antuan Prather, 31, of Toccoa.

“At 12:55 Sgt. Erik Carter and Corp. Kenneth Frady performed a felony traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle. The stop was on N. Big A road at the Valero gas station. The suspect was driving a white Ford Fusion rental car. Prather was taken into custody without incident,” Mize said.

According to Mize, Capt. Charlie Littleton was on scene with the traffic stop and took control of the suspect vehicle for the GBI to process.

Prather was transported to the Police station and later to the Stephens County jail by Corporal Frady, Mize said.

“We have no idea what the motive is nor what was on the shooter’s mind. He was cognizant of everything that was being asked of him, and did not seem to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and seemed to be in his right mind,”  Sheriff Shirley said.