Nascar Driver John Wes Townley Attacked Shooter & Ex-Wife With Hatchet Before Double Shooting Death, Days After Finalizing Divorce
Oct. 4 2021, Published 12:41 p.m. ET
Former NASCAR star John Wes Townley attacked his ex-wife and another with a hatchet, which led to his death.
The terrifying incident, detailed on Front Page Detectives, went down on Saturday evening in Athens, Georgia, which ended in a double shooting involving Laura Townley and Zachary Anderson. According to the Athens-Clarke County Police report obtained by Radar, Townley showed up at 240 Morton Ave. and "attacked Mr. Anderson and Ms.Townley with a hatchet."
It's worth noting, John and Laura's divorce was recently finalized, as in last week.
According to police, "Anderson fired several shots from his gun which struck Mr.Townley and accidentally struck Ms.Townley."
Authorities responded to a call about a "female with a gunshot wound to the abdomen" around 8:50 PM. When cops arrived on the scene, they found Laura shot inside the home, along with her ex-husband who had been "shot through the chest."
Townley and Laura were both transferred to the hospital by ambulance. The former NASCAR driver was later pronounced dead. He was 31 years old.
As for Laura, 30, she sustained serious injuries and is expected to survive.
"The initial investigation indicates that John Townley, 31, arrived at the Morton Avenue address that was occupied by Laura Townley, 30, and Zachary Anderson, 32, of Dunwoody, GA. Shortly after Mr. Townley arrived at the residence, there was an altercation between Mr. Townley and Mr. Anderson involving a hatchet. At some point during the altercation, Anderson fired several shots from his firearm. As a result, Ms. Townley and Mr. Townley were struck," the police report reads.
The report does not give any details related to Laura's relationship with Anderson.
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The investigation is ongoing, and at this moment, no charges have been filed.
Townley proposed to Laura in 2016 after meeting on the dating site, Match. They walked down the aisle two years later. Laura is a registered nurse.
Townley drove NASCAR for 8 seasons, but the only national series win of his career was at Truck Series in Las Vegas six years ago.
