Dublin residents ask for felony murder investigation into David Hooks case

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dublin-Laurens County residents want the David Hooks case to be investigated as a felony murder.

It’s a community supporting one of its own.

“We have a gentleman by the name of David Hooks that was murdered,” one speaker said.

Nearly 10 months after Hooks, a Laurens County resident, was shot and killed by a Laurens County sheriff’s deputy during a drug raid, almost 40 people are still voicing their opinions.

“This is just a bad situation,” Tom McCain, a concerned citizen, said.

The sheriff’s office released a statement saying Hooks was shot after he grabbed a gun and acted aggressively toward deputies. The Hooks’ family attorney, Mitch Shooks, claims deputies didn’t follow protocol when they served their search warrant.

“It’s been a long, hard journey. It’s been 10 months and a lot of people forget over time and we’re glad they haven’t in this case,” Shooks said.

Sheriff Bill Harrell will not comment on the case any further.

More than 100 people signed a petition asking that the case be investigated as a felony murder.

“We’re asking that in their deliberations they consider that David’s civil rights were violated during this process and that this is a death under cover of law and that it is a felony murder,” McCain said.

Special prosecutor Chuck Spahos tells 41NBC he’s waiting on a decision from a grand jury before deciding how to move forward.

Shooks says he hopes the case is thoroughly reviewed.

“It leaves us with hope that the grand jury in this case will hear all of the evidence, not just part of the evidence, all of the evidence in this case,” he said.

“It’s just wrong. You can’t do that type of thing,” another supporter said.

Shooks adds despite the attention cases similar to the Hooks case receive nationwide, he says this one won’t be as easy to figure out.

“Those are easier to come to some conclusion. In this particular case there are numerous, numerous people involved so it’s going to take more time and we understand that,” he said.

A grand jury will hear evidence and review witness statements on Thursday before making a decision to either formally charge the deputy who fatally shot Hooks or dismiss the case.