A woman has been arrested following an early-morning shooting that left a man critically injured in the Lone Oak area of Meriwether County.
According to the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:27 a.m. on April 22, 2026, to the 1200 block of St. Marks Road in reference to a report of a person shot.
Upon arrival, a patrol deputy located a white male, approximately 50 years old, inside the garage of the residence suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the leg. Authorities say the victim was bleeding heavily when Deputy Tyler Leverette applied a tourniquet in an effort to slow the bleeding.
Meriwether County EMS arrived shortly after, took over medical care, and transported the victim to a landing zone where he was airlifted to a metro Atlanta trauma hospital. He is currently listed in critical condition.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office responded to the scene, conducted interviews, and obtained search warrants for the residence. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Unit was also requested to assist with processing the scene, and a GBI agent responded in a support role.
Through the investigation, authorities determined the victim is a lawful resident of the home. Officials say that, for reasons still under investigation, a female resident identified as Freedom Ladean McCormick, 50, allegedly obtained a small-caliber handgun and shot the man in the leg while inside the garage.
McCormick was taken into custody and transported to the Meriwether County Jail, where she has been charged with aggravated assault. She is currently being held without bond. Additional charges are pending.
Sheriff Chuck Smith praised the actions of the responding deputy.
“I am grateful that Deputy Leverette was able to utilize his issued tourniquet to slow the bleeding from the victim’s leg wound,” Smith said. “This life-saving measure may turn out to be instrumental in this victim’s survival… I appreciate our investigators and the GBI in their efforts to get the offender in custody in short order.”
Smith also noted that, based on the preliminary investigation, the incident appears to be domestic-related.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.