Axel Ricky Willis

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is expected to conclude its investigation into the April 20 shooting death of Jason Burnett, 43 of Dahlonega, by the end of next week.

According to a source close to the investigation the incident has a “99 percent certainty of being ruled a case of self defense.”

The source said Burnett arrived at the home of Axel Ricky Willis, 23, at 156 Bill Anderson Road in Dahlonega at which time, words were exchanged regarding Burnett’s estranged wife Heather living with Willis and Burnett struck Willis with a baseball bat, leaving visible marks before being shot and killed.

Georgia’s version of the stand your ground law (Georgia Code 16-3-23-1) states that a person using force in self-defense has “no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground. The key is that the person’s use of force must be in self defense. The law provides either immunity from prosecution or a defense during trial in cases in which a person uses deadly force in public, even if he or she can safely retreat.

The shooting took place shortly after 7:30 p.m. Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputies secured the scene before turning the investigation over to the GBI.

While social media accounts have claimed Burnett was shot in the back, sources say those statements are incorrect and that Mr. Burnett was shot in the face.

Several people witnessed the shooting, including Heather Burnett.

A small amount of marijuana was found in the home and Willis was charged with misdemeanor possession but, as of today (April 27) he has not been charged with anything relating to the shooting.

He was transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center where he was placed on a 48-hour hold but was released on $1,200 bond Tuesday, April 23.

Fetch Your News will have more information as it becomes available.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com