Arrest made in shooting of Jackson Co. McDonald's employee

By Joe Johnson

An arrest has been made in the shooting of an employee at a McDonald’s in Jackson County this week.

The Jefferson County Police Department announced at 8 p.m. Friday that 26-year-old Devonte Watts of Stone Mountain had been arrested in connection with the Thursday night shooting at the fast-food restaurant located at 4875 U.S. Highway 129 North in Jefferson.

The shooting reportedly culminated a dispute between Watts and an employee working at the drive-thru window concerning a problem Watts had concerning his order.

While arguing, Watts allegedly spit at the employee through the pick-up window, and the employee confronted Watts outside, where police said the argument continued, and as the customer drove away, Watts fired one shot towards the employee.

“The bullet actually hit a second employee who had gone outside with the first employee to try to defuse the situation,” according to police.

That employee was transported to the hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

Watts was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Jefferson police said they were aided in the investigation by the Jackson County and Hall County sheriff’s offices, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Gainesville Police Department.