Georgia father tracks daughter down through phone and shoots boy he finds her with  

Georgia father is charged after tracking daughter’s location via her cellphone to a church parking and then shooting at a 17-year-old boy that he found her with

  • Enraged dad, Dustin Vandegrift faces multiple charges including aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
  • Vandegrift admitted to police that he tracked his daughter’s whereabouts to a church parking lot to ‘check on her ‘ 
  • Vandegrift’s daughter told investigators her father battered her male friend before shooting at him and struck her   
  • The father attempted to flee in a white Camaro but was detained for questioning, cops said  
  • A search warrant executed on Vandergrift’s car and revealed a .45-caliber pistol
  • Vandegrift is being held without bond at Habersham County jail

A 36-year-old Georgia man has been charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated assault after he allegedly shot at a 17-year-old boy that he found with his daughter after tracking her location via her cell phone to a church parking lot. 

On Wednesday, deputies from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of shots fired in the parking lot of Central Alliance Church around 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

The church is located across the street from two schools in Mount Airy. Habersham Central High School district and the Ninth Grade Academy were immediately put on lockdown. 

School officials and police were on high alert after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas just one day prior that claimed the lives of 21 people, including 19 children and two adults. 

Once police ensured both schools were secure they located a 17-year-old male, who was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with non-life-threatening injuries.  

Police later revealed that the male victim was not hit by a bullet, but suffered injuries from a physical assault and ricochet debris.

When police arrived, Dustin Vandegrift, the teenage girl’s father was attempting to flee in his white Camaro, but he was detained for questioning, authorities said. 

A search warrant executed on Vandegrift’s car revealed a .45-caliber pistol that he had fired, according to the police investigation.

Dustin Vandegrift, has been charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, simple battery involving family violence, two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, two counts of third-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of recklessly causing harm or endangering safety

Police arrive at the Central Alliance Church parking lot in the area of Mount Airy, a town in Habersham County, Georgia

Police arrive at the Central Alliance Church parking lot in the area of Mount Airy, a town in Habersham County, Georgia 

A 911 call from a local business alerted police to the church parking lot after hearing reports of a gun shot behind the church and saw a young male and female fighting. The police immediately put the schools on lockdown since the church is located across the street from a private academy and and a high school

A 911 call from a local business alerted police to the church parking lot after hearing reports of a gun shot behind the church and saw a young male and female fighting. The police immediately put the schools on lockdown since the church is located across the street from a private academy and and a high school

Vandegrift was later charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He was also charged with simple battery involving family violence, two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, two counts of third-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of recklessly causing harm or endangering safety.

Vandegrift’s daughter told investigators that her father appeared behind the church and battered her male friend before shooting at him. 

She also said told police that her father struck her.

Vandegrift admitted to police that he tracked his daughter’s whereabouts to the church parking lot to ‘check on her.’ 

He told authorities that he confronted both teens and physically attacked the boy and fired a shot.

Vandegrift is currently being held without bond at Habersham County Detention Center.

When police arrived, Dustin Vandegrift, the teenage girl's father was attempting to flee in his white Camaro, but he was detained for questioning, authorities said.

When police arrived, Dustin Vandegrift, the teenage girl’s father was attempting to flee in his white Camaro, but he was detained for questioning, authorities said.

On Wednesday, deputies from the Habersham County Sheriff¿s Department responded to a call of shots fired in a the Central Alliance Church parking in Mount Airy. At that point, they were unaware it was not a school shooting

On Wednesday, deputies from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of shots fired in a the Central Alliance Church parking in Mount Airy. At that point, they were unaware it was not a school shooting 

Law enforcement officials, the fire department, and emergency responders arrived promptly when gunshot was reported at the local church that is located between two schools in the area

Law enforcement officials, the fire department, and emergency responders arrived promptly when gunshot was reported at the local church that is located between two schools in the area 

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