Conyers Police: 18-year-old killed at horse park appears to be accidental

CONYERS, GA—The Conyers Police Department responded to reports of a person who had been shot at the Georgia International Horse Park on July 6, around 5:15 p.m. The victim, 18-year-old Marcus Shaffer of Conyers, suffered a single gunshot wound that resulted in his death. Shaffer was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Rockdale County Coroner’s Office.

Police received a 911 call from a friend of the deceased who was present at the time of the shooting. The 911 caller, also an 18-year-old male from Conyers, is considered a witness to the event at this time.

The victim and witness were located on a trail off of Centennial Olympic Parkway. No other persons are believed to have been in the immediate area at the time the firearm was discharged and police are not searching for any outstanding persons of interest. The witness has cooperated with law enforcement since the beginning of the investigation. A single weapon was located at the scene and is described by investigators as a semi-automatic shotgun.

Information provided by the witness, along with evidence collected at the crime scene, indicate that the death was likely the result of a firearms-related accident. No one has been charged with a crime at the time of this release. The investigation into the circumstances leading to the firearm being discharged is ongoing and additional information will be released as details are discovered.