Death Investigation on Pleasant Grove Road

(Paulding County, GA) On Monday, March 12, 2018, at approximately 8:04 AM a 911 call was placed to Paulding E-911 regarding a body that was located on the side of the roadway in the area of Pleasant Grove Road and Majesty Drive which is in western Paulding County. Once Deputies and first responders arrived on scene they quickly discovered that the male was deceased. After a canvas of the area, it was discovered that the male victim lived at a residence in the area. According to Detectives and a preliminary examination by the medical examiner at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Atlanta, the injuries that the male sustained were consistent with that of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The victim has been identified as a 15-year-old white male and contrary to some false reports, the victim's hands were not bound behind his back. Due to the fact that the victim is a juvenile, we will not be releasing his name or the school he attended. Prior to first responders arriving on the scene, it was reported that a Paulding County school bus passed by the scene and some students may have seen the victim lying in the grass beside the roadway. The Paulding County School District is working with the affected schools and students to help them cope with what they may or may not have seen.
It must be noted that there has been some speculation from certain individuals and sites on social media regarding this incident. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office is a professional law enforcement agency that conducts all of the law enforcement operations for unincorporated Paulding County. We would encourage everyone, who wants factual and accurate information, to trust our website, press releases, and social media sites and not share and follow sites that post inaccurate and false facts about incidents that occur in Paulding County. The Sheriff’s Office disseminates information to the public when it is appropriate, factual, and at a time that does not hamper or hinder an investigation. We do not always have the luxury of making quick statements in cases like these that may not be factual just to appease a certain site or group of individuals. At no time during this incident did Deputies or Detectives feel as if the public was in danger.
Teen suicide is a grave problem in the United States and should be taken seriously. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, depression, or any other ailment which might lead to suicide, please get some help as soon as possible. If you need help you can call the Georgia Crisis Access Line at 1- 800-493-1932.