The Bloody Aftermath Of Double Shooting & Hatchet Attack That Led To NASCAR Driver John Wes Townley's Death
Oct. 4 2021, Published 1:07 p.m. ET
RadarOnline.com can confirm that there is body-camera footage of police response to John Wes Townley's shooting death following his hatchet attack on his ex-wife, Laura Paige Townley, and the man she was with at the time, Zachary Steven Anderson.
John, a 31-year-old retired NASCAR racer, died over the weekend after he was shot by Zachary at an Athens, Georgia, residence that the latter was occupying with Laura.
According to the Athens-Clarke County police report obtained by RadarOnline.com, John showed up at 240 Morton Avenue on Saturday night and attacked 32-year-old Zachary and 30-year-old Laura with a hatchet.
Cops note in their report that the former couple's divorce had been finalized earlier in the week. They do not, however, specify Laura's relationship with Zachary, who is from Dunwoody.
The report states that an altercation ensued, during which Zachary fired off several shots from his firearm, striking John in the chest and shooting Laura in the abdomen. The shooting of Laura is believed to have been accidental.
Both Townleys were transported to a local hospital, where John succumbed to his injuries. Laura is in serious condition but expected to survive.
Law enforcement sources tell us that "several officers" responded to the scene at around 8:45 PM local time after receiving a call in regard to a female with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Once there, they discovered a male – John – had also been shot.
We have confirmed that one or more of the responding cops recorded their response to the call via one or more Axon body cameras; however, we are told that "due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the video footage is not being released at this time."
The investigation is ongoing and in collaboration with the Community Improvement District.
According to the police report, the deadly altercation is not considered a "family violence" situation. We are told that's because "Mr. Anderson and Mr. Townley did not share a family violence relationship."
No arrests have been made or charges filed at this time.
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John and Laura tied the knot in late 2018, a few years after meeting on the dating site, Match.
