The above photographs depict the home at 179 Rhinehart Drive where a fatal shooting took place in an alleged domestic dispute. Photos contributed by the Gordon County Sheriff's Office.
The 911 report of a fatal shooting in the Ranger community Monday afternoon shows the terror in the home where an apparent domestic dispute reportedly escalated to the death of one man at the hands of his son Monday afternoon.
Steve Gary Rhinehart, 62, of Ranger, was shot and killed at his home Monday allegedly by his son, Matthew Joel Rhinehart, 35, who was found at the scene with a handgun.
Two calls came into Gordon County 9-1-1 dispatchers Monday, after shots were fired. The first call came in at 12:59 p.m. from Susan Rhinehart, Matthew’s mother and Steve’s wife, inside the home at the scene of the crime.
The second call came in minutes later at 1:02 p.m. from a second phone in the house placed by Matthew Rhinehart.
Deputies were en route to the scene at 1:01 p.m.
“63 YO M-SHOT AT THE BARN – I HAVE MATT RHINEHART ON THE PHONE STS (states) HE SHOT HIS DAD. HE SHOT WITH A PISTOL POSSIBLE .357. STS HIS FATHER WAS COMING AT HIM AND ATTACKING HIM.”
Susan Rhinehart, spoke to 9-1-1 operators from a bathroom in the home.
“SON NAME MATHEW RYNHEART (Rhinehart) – SHE IS UNABLE TO GIVE ME DESCRIPTIONS. MATT IS WEARING A BLK (black) SHIRT AND KHAKI PANTS. MOTHER IS LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM. SHE THINKS IT IS A PISTOL. MATT STS HE FOUND THE GUN AND IT WAS NOT HIS.”
At 1:06 p.m. Matthew leaves the 9-1-1 conversation.
“HE SET THE PHONE DOWN STS THEY ARE HERE. SHE NO LONGER HEARS HER SON IN THE HOUSE. THE ONLY HOUSE PHONE IS IN THE KITCHEN AND THAT’S W(H)ERE SON WAS CALLING FROM INTO THE CENTER.”
At 1:11 p.m., one minute after deputies arrived on the scene, Susan Rhinehart explains what happened after she heard shots fired.
“PER MOTHER HER HUSBAND WAS UP IN THE WORK SHOP UP BEHIND THE HOSUE (house) AND THAT’S W(H)ERE THE SON WAS WALKING FROM W(H)ERE SHE HEARD THE GUN SHOTS AND THAT’S WHEN SHE CALLED AND LOCKED HER SELF IN THE BATHROOM.”
“The body of the deceased man was sent to the State Crime Laboratory in Decatur, Ga., to undergo a post-mortem examination,” said the Sheriff’s Office report. “GBI agents leading the investigation plan to charge him with murder.”
According to the report, the shooting likely happened from an escalation of a domestic dispute between the father and son.
Gordon County Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert Paris said Matthew Rhinehart appeared before the Magistrate court Wednesday and bond was denied.
“His (Matthew’s) case will be referred to the Superior Court and is now in the District Attorney’s hands,” said Chief Paris.
Post a Comment