Ladon Dunson

Name:
Dunson, Ladon Dontravelli-Dem

Date of Booking:
12/13/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On 12/13/25 at 1710 hours I, DS Purdon, responded to a dispute at 3219 E HWY 34 (Advanced Auto parts). E911 advised that people were fighting in the parking lot and one of the parties possibly left the scene in a white mini van eastbound on GA 34.

Upon arrival, I got out with 3 people ([WITNESS #1]- father, [WITNESS #2]- mother, and Ladon Dunson- son) standing in the parking lot by a black car near E HWY 34 at Advance Auto. [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #1] stated that no physical fighting took place and the other parties [REDACTED BY AGENCY], [VICTIM #1], and [VICTIM #2]) were a mobile mechanic business that got upset because [WITNESS #2] and [WITNESS #1] refused to pay them before they fixed Ladon’s car. [WITNESS #1] stated that the only threat the mobile mechanic made was a vague threat (we will get what is owed to us), insinuating violence without actually saying it.

I arrived on scene before any call notes about a gun were updated to the CAD system and then I requested E911 to cancel the BOLO for the white Chrysler Van (other party). SGT Lamb advised E911 to disregard my request and then SGT Lamb advised me over the phone about the updated information regarding the gun. The CAD Notes advised the mobile mechanic [REDACTED BY AGENCY] called E911 and advised them that Ladon (son) pulled out a gun on him during the dispute. E911 advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] refused to turn back around and meet with law enforcement.

When I asked [WITNESS #2] why she didn’t mention the firearm in her initial testimony, she advised me it was because I only asked about the physical fighting. [WITNESS #2] stated that her and [WITNESS #1] drove Ladon to Advance Auto because his car broke down and he was going to have a mobile mechanic fix the car in the parking lot. [WITNESS #2] stated that [WITNESS #1] had a disagreement with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] about payment for the work on Ladon’s vehicle.

[WITNESS #2] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [VICTIM #1] started cussing and yelling at her, [WITNESS #1], and Ladon in the parking lot. [WITNESS #2] stated that she heard [VICTIM #1] mention something about a gun during the argument and then [WITNESS #2] ran inside of Advance Auto to let them know they needed to call E911. [WITNESS #2] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] made vague threats (we will get our money) before getting into the white mini van and driving off. [WITNESS #2] stated that she did not see a gun.

[WITNESS #1] stated that Ladon hired [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to fix his car in the parking lot for $180, however [REDACTED BY AGENCY] refused to allow [VICTIM #2] (the mechanic) to perform the work unless he was paid upfront. [WITNESS #1] stated that [VICTIM #2] started to take Ladon’s vehicle apart after buying a headlamp from Advance Auto, but stopped working when [REDACTED BY AGENCY] gave him the instruction. [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] became agitated and started telling them “he will get his money one way or another” while walking up to him in a threatening manner.

[WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] made threats to “fu*k him up” during the verbal argument. [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY], [VICTIM #1], and [VICTIM #2] packed up their tools into the minivan and proceeded to leave the scene. [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] drove around the parking lot, while continuing to yell and cuss at them, turned right (EB) onto GA 34, turned around at the light at Andrew Bailey, slow rolled down the road while still acting disorderly.

Ladon stated that he found [REDACTED BY AGENCY] mobile mechanic service on Google and agreed to pay him $180 to come out to Newnan and fix his vehicle in the parking lot of Advance Auto. Ladon stated that he busted his transmission pan a while ago and needed the part replaced. Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] arrived with [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] in a white mini van and then [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [VICTIM #1] began unloading tools from the vehicle. Ladon stated that [VICTIM #2] went inside the store for something, but he was the mechanic that was actually doing work on his vehicle.

Ladon stated that [VICTIM #2] started working on his vehicle until [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told [VICTIM #2] to stop. Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] started arguing with [WITNESS #1] because [REDACTED BY AGENCY] wanted to be paid first, before [VICTIM #2] performed the repair. Ladon stated that [WITNESS #1] refused to give [REDACTED BY AGENCY] the $180 until the job was complete. Ladon stated that a verbal argument ensued between [REDACTED BY AGENCY], [VICTIM #1] and [WITNESS #1].

Ladon stated that he was worried that [WITNESS #1] might do something drastic due to his condition, so Ladon walked up to [WITNESS #1] and removed [WITNESS #1]’s firearm (Smith and Wesson 40 caliber SD40VE, S/N FCF6699) from his person during the verbal argument. Ladon stated that he placed the pistol in his jacket pocket and then started walking back toward his parent’s vehicle.

Ladon stated that he never pulled out the pistol in front of [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/[VICTIM #1]/[VICTIM #2], but they may have seen the pistol as he put it in his jacket. Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told him that he had a gun too, and then [REDACTED BY AGENCY] started walking back to the minivan on multiple occasions.

Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was calling him a fag*ot, the n word, the b word, as [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/[VICTIM #1]/[VICTIM #2] all got into the mini van. Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] drove around the parking lot and stopped the mini van right in front of Ladon (as if [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was going to hit him with the vehicle). Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] yelled at him to get out of the way as he drove past him.

Ladon stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] drove down to the next traffic light, turned around back toward their direction, and then slow rolled past them, still yelling obscenities. Ladon stated that he never saw a gun on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] person. Ladon stated that he did not recollect [VICTIM #1] mentioning anything about a gun. Ladon provided me [REDACTED BY AGENCY] phone number and showed me the text message thread where him and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] agreed on the price of $180 to work on his vehicle.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Ladon hired his business to fix his vehicle today, however [WITNESS #1] refused to pay him before performing the work. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that when he arrived on scene, both he and his wife [VICTIM #1] were getting tools out of the van while [VICTIM #2] (the mechanic) went inside Advance Auto to get a headlamp. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that they got Ladon’s vehicle jacked up and ready for [VICTIM #2] to work on the vehicle by the time he came back. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that [VICTIM #2] started working on the vehicle and taking things apart.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he requested payment from Ladon at that point and then [WITNESS #1] informed him that he was not getting paid until the job was complete. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he told [VICTIM #2] to stop working on the vehicle and then a verbal dispute ensued between [WITNESS #1] and [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he did not make any threats and that [WITNESS #1] was getting agitated with him.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Ladon then pulled out a gun from his jacket pocket, pointed the firearm at him, and then made the threats “I will kill you all” and “I will light you up”. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that [WITNESS #1] started grabbing the firearm Ladon was holding, trying to tell him to put the firearm up. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] described the firearm as a smaller pistol with a silver color (the pistol was silver and black). [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he told Ladon that he was not the only one with a gun. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that himself, [VICTIM #1], and [VICTIM #2] then got in their vehicle and proceeded to leave the area.

[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he was not going to stay in the area because Ladon threatened himself, [VICTIM #1], and [VICTIM #2] with a firearm. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he would not meet up with law enforcement at the time of the call because he runs a business and he had other jobs to complete. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that he was willing to fill out a witness statement at a later time/date. I spoke to [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] over the phone and they gave similar testimonies to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] recollection of the events. [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] were also willing to provide witness statements regarding the incident.

DS Poe recovered the alleged firearm from Ladon (I believe) and then handed it to me (along with a 14 round magazine, 40 caliber) while I was on the phone with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (no gloves). DS Munster checked the surrounding businesses for camera footage of the incident and determined that Xhale City was the only business with working cameras that could possibly contain evidence. DS Munster advised me that Xhale City stated that law enforcement needed either a warrant, subpoena, or a formal email request in order to obtain their camera footage.

By the time I finished interviewing [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/[VICTIM #1]/[VICTIM #2], shift change occurred and DS Horner arrived on scene to back me up on the incident. I called LT Windom over the phone to discuss the incident, considered the totality of the circumstances, and then made the determination that probable cause did exist for the charge of aggravated assault. DS Horner and I placed Ladon under arrest, handcuffed to the rear, double locked, and checked for fit.

[WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] became highly upset when Ladon was placed under arrest and then they requested to speak with a supervisor. SGT Weaver arrived on scene and spoke with [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] while I transported Ladon to 560 Greison Trail (CCSO). I released Ladon to the jail’s custody and submitted Ladon’s boxcutter and firearm (with magazine and bullets) into evidence (the jail refused to accept the boxcutter from Ladon’s personal items). At this time, video footage of the incident will be obtained from Xhale City at a later time/date.

[End of Narrative]