Full Notification

On August 21, 2011, shortly before 8:00 PM, deputies responded to a call of a fight in progress in the 1100 block of Watson Springs Road. While en route, the deputies were notified that shots had been fired. Two separate people including a juvenile called 911 concerning the incident. When deputies arrived on scene, they were met at the end of the driveway by two juveniles who told them that James Eric Hester (32) had been threatening people at the residence and had fired shots into the air and that he also had a knife.

The deputies approached the residence. As they did so, Brian Bowden (31) came out of the house and stated that he had shot Hester in self defense after Hester had tried to stab him. Hester was found on the ground in the yard with a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. Once the deputies had the scene secured, first responders from Oconee County Fire Rescue along with National EMS treated Hester and transported him to Athens Regional Medical Center. The wound was not fatal.

Bowden and Hester live at different residences on Watson Springs Road.

The witnesses on scene, all family members of both Hester and Bowden, provided statements that backed up Bowden’s assertion of self defense. Bowden has not been arrested. This case is still under review.