Barrow County Firefighter Todd Orr, Daughter Shot During Struggle

A lieutenant at Barrow County Emergency Services and his pregnant daughter remained hospitalized Monday following a Christmas Day shooting in which each lost a portion of a limb from being struck by the same bullet.

Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said a family argument between Lt. Todd Orr and two of his daughters culminated in violence shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday after Orr picked up a loaded, .270-calibre hunting rifle that was in his bedroom.

He told deputies that he had intended to leave the house and to take his gun with him. However, his daughters believed he was going to commit suicide, Smith said.

As the daughters and a male relative struggled with Orr over the rifle, it discharged.

The fast-moving cartridge partially severed a forearm of the pregnant daughter, Tiffany Thomas, whose first baby is due in weeks. The bullet then tore through Orr’s hand and ripped off at least two fingers before entering his abdomen, traveling up through his chest cavity, and out his back.

”One shot was fired, Smith said. ”This was a very fast-traveling bullet. So that did some damage.

Orr and Thomas both are being treated at Athens Regional Medical Center. Surgeons amputated the daughter’s forearm.

”They’re recovering from very serious wounds, Smith said, noting that the unbo baby appears to be OK.

The sheriff said the matter is still under investigation, and sorting out precisely what happened has been complicated.

Investigators are still trying to verify what sparked the argument.

Smith said the family had celebrated the holiday at a relative’s house and had arrived at Orr’s home shortly before the incident unfolded.

”A drinking glass was thrown at Todd, Smith said. ”He threw a beer can at Tiffany and allegedly goes into the bedroom, and gets a gun…

”None of the people we interviewed can say who pulled the trigger. We’ve got three people pulling and jerking this thing and trying to get the gun away from Todd, and it goes off.

The sheriff said that despite the severity of his wounds, Orr was "walking around coherent" when deputies arrived.

"It’s lucky no one died," Smith said. "Anytime this happens, on any day, it's tragic. It’s even more tragic on Christmas Day. It’s just terrible.

The sheriff said some emergency services personnel responding to the scene did not initially realize it was Orr's family home.

"From what I understand, there was a big outcry," Smith said. "The Orr family is very well known in Barrow County."

Though the gun may have been fired accidentally, criminal charges are a possibility, Smith said.

But before charging anyone, the sheriff said he would discuss the findings of the investigation with District Attoey Brad Smith.

”Once we get through investigating, we are going to consult with the DA to see if charges are going to apply for this case, the sheriff said. ”It’s very complicated, because we’ve got all these different stories from witnesses…

Since news of the incident broke Sunday moing, local bloggers have strongly questioned why Orr was not immediately charged with a crime.

”It’s not up to us to prosecute it, the sheriff said. ”It’s up to the D.A.’s office and the court system. We merely investigate the case, and because both Todd and his daughter are in the hospital, we didn’t feel it was necessary at the time of the incident to lock him up and take him into custody.

He did note that Orr is ”quarantined at the hospital and under around-the-clock observation.

”I will tell you this: In this sheriff’s office, it is my policy to investigate every crime to the best of our ability and to attempt to present a reasonable, lawful case to the D.A.’s office for prosecution in the court system, Smith said. ”We don’t play favorites here. We investigate the case, attempt to find probable cause and move forward.

Orr has been employed by Barrow County's govement for five years and was among 17 applicants for the vacant fire chief position that is to be filled in early 2011.

Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood said Monday that the county would launch an inteal investigation of the incident.

"I am sure we are going to launch our own investigation," Yearwood said. "We've got to make sure we are going by county personnel policy. I will make sure of that when I get back."

Regarding the Orr family, he said: "I'll just pray they're OK. That's my only comment right now."

Interim emergency services chief John Skinner said Monday: "This is still an active investigation by the Sheriff's department, therefore I will not comment on this unfortunate incident other than to
ask that everyone continues to support and pray for the Orr family during this difficult time."