Fulton Deputy Accused Of Shooting Neighbor

RIVERDALE, Ga. -- A Riverdale man accuses a Fulton County deputy, who is also his neighbor, of opening fire on him.

The man wasn’t struck by the gunfire, but he showed GA Daily News reporter Ryan Young how close the bullets came to hitting him. The shots literally put holes in the man’s pants, he said.

”I grew up thinking police could be trusted, and if you live next door to a police officer, you’re in a safe zone. That trust is now gone, Jeremy Martin said.

Martin told Young that his neighbor nearly shot him in the leg Monday night after accusing his son of trying to break into her home on Pixley Drive.

Martin said he walked out of his house to find his neighbor and her husband on top of his son. When he asked what was going on, Martin said the deputy quickly tued.

”I noticed someone tuing around and they started firing shots at me, said Martin.

When asked whether the off-duty deputy gave him commands, Martin told Young: ”No, nothing. Just boom boom, boom. I saw my life flash before me.

By that point, several people in the neighborhood started dialing 911. That's when Martin said his pit bull ran over from the house and then the deputy shot the dog in the head two times, Martin said. The dog underwent surgery.

Riverdale police detained and interviewed everyone in an attempt to sort out the dispute.

The Martins’ attoey, Phinia Aten, said she doesn’t believe that her client’s son was trying to burglarize the deputy’s home.

”She's been living next door to this young man for three years and never had a problem. They have burglar bars, and their cars were home.