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Written by: E. George
Published December 17, 2024 @ 11:10 AM ET
BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – On November 13, 2024, deputies arrested a 60-year-old Lula man after they responded to a residence and discovered his mother deceased from a gunshot wound. The discovery occurred after they found the suspect, Wesley Lamar Lewallen, driving with a revoked license.
When Banks County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a welfare check at the home and could not locate the suspect’s elderly mother, they began searching outside. One deputy noted seeing the woman in a black gown sitting in a wheelchair beside a red truck.
The deputy noticed the woman’s head slumped over to one side and one arm hanging down on the side of the wheelchair. Upon closer inspection, they observed blood on the front of her shirt, along with a bullet hole that penetrated the back of the chair.
Emergency medical services responded, but sadly, the victim passed away.
Deputies arrested Lewallen and transported him to the Banks County Jail.
Lewallen faces charges of aggravated assault, driving with a suspended or revoked license, felony probation violation, malice murder, and murder. This case is pending.
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.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on November 10, 2024]
On November 10, at around 11:49am Corporal (CPL. Burns responded to a welfare check at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]
Cpl. Burns arrived on scene and met with Deputy Forrester who was on scene with the complainant, Wesley Lewallen. Deputy Forrester had checked on the home owner at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and she was all good. She was yelling at her dogs. Mr. Lewallen stated he heard the women yelling inside and was worried about her. He stated he did not know the home owner.
Cpl. Burns had previous knowledge of Mr. Lewallen and of him having a revoked Georgia drivers license. Deputy Forrester asked for Mr. Lewallen’s license and he provided his Georgia Identification card. Mr. Lewallen’s information was placed in the Georgia Crime Information Center and he returned with a revoked license. Deputies asked Mr. Lewallen where he had been this morning and he stated he had been driving around for the past four hours or so. Cpl. Burns has previous knowledge that Mr. Lewallen is the care taker for his elderly mother, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Cpl. Burns asked Mr. Lewallen where his mother was and he stated she was at their residence at [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Road. Cpl. Burns asked Mr. Lewallen if his mother was home and he stated “I reckon.” Cpl. Burns asked Mr. Lewallen if he was driving around to get food for, he and his mother or if he was out doing things he should not have been. Mr. Lewallen stated he had been driving around and had purchased and used methamphetamine this date.
Deputies spoke to one another and decided that Mr. Lewallen would be placed in custody but the safety and wellbeing for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] needed to be taken into consideration. Cpl. Burns drove to [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Road to make contact [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Cpl. Burns could see into the main living room from the front porch. Two dogs could be seen with a stand assist walker in the living room. Cpl. Burns recognized the walker as [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Cpl. Burns looked into the window of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] bedroom and could see her chair and bed empty. Cpl. Burns asked Deputy Forrester over the radio if Mr. Lewallen knew if his mother was home and he stated yes. Deputy Forrester was given permission from Mr. Lewallen to go into the residence and check on his mother. Cpl. Burns asked for Deputy Forrester to meet at the residence with Mr. Lewallen to help secure the dogs.
Mr. Lewallen let both Deputies inside his residence to check on the welfare of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Cpl. Burns looked around the residence and was unable to locate [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Cpl. Burns knows that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is in a wheelchair and has to be pushed around to get around. From Cpl. Burns’ previous knowledge, he could not remember of a time where [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was able to walk or get around on. Deputy Forrester cleared the rest of the residence and spoke with Mr. Lewallen while Cpl. Burns went outside to check the rest of the property in case [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had fallen outside.
Cpl. Burns walked around the right side of the residence where a red truck was located and located [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was dressed in a black dress like gown sitting in a black wheel chair. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had her head slumped over to her right with her left arm holding onto the arm of the chair and her right arm hanging down to the side. Cpl. Burns noticed blood on the front of her shirt. Cpl. Burns spoke to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] with negative response. Cpl. Burns attempted to find a pulse on the left side of her neck with negative results. Cpl. Burns notified dispatch to notify the Coroner and the Fire Department / Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to respond.
Deputies began to secure the residence and the property while waiting for additional units and support. Fire/EMS arrived on scene and conducted a further exam of [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. EMS [REDACTED] checked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] for signs of life and noticed a hole in the front of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] shirt. There was blood behind the hole in the shirt which EMS [REDACTED] investigated further. It appeared that there was a hole in [REDACTED BY AGENCY] which possibly matched the hole found in the rear of the wheel chair. From his training and experience, Cpl. Burns noticed an abnormal amount of blood coming from the chair that would match a natural death. EMS notified Cpl. Burns of a bullet casing on the ground in front of [REDACTED BY AGENCY]
Cpl. Burns made the necessary phone calls and notified the appropriate people. Crime scene tape and a crime scene log was started to document the scene.
Sgt. Haack arrived on scene along with the other Deputies and Investigators.
Cpl. Burns continued the crime scene log until turned over to crime scene techs.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on November 10, 2024]
On 11-10-2024 at 1149 hours, Deputy Forrester responded to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in regards to a welfare check. Dispatch advised the caller (Wesley Lewallen) could hear yelling coming from inside the residence. Deputy Forrester arrived on scene and spoke with, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that her husband passed away and she lives alone with her three dogs. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated she yells at the dogs but hasn’t done so in the last three hours or so. Deputy Forrester then asked dispatch if the caller wanted to meet. Dispatch stated that the caller did want to meet and was standing in the driveway beside a red Ford Explorer. Dispatch did not advise what driveway. Deputy Forrester checked the area where he had negative contact. Deputy Forrester then began driving back towards [REDACTED BY AGENCY] when he noticed a red in color Ford Explorer driving behind him. Deputy Forrester pulled in front of [REDACTED BY AGENCY]
Deputy Forrester then spoke with Wesley Lewallen who advised he was very concerned with the people that live at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Wesley stated he can hear the subjects arguing from his residence. Wesley lives at [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Rd approximately 0.9 miles away. Wesley was advised the subject lives alone and has dogs. Cpl. Burns advised Deputy Forrester that Wesley did not have a valid driver’s license. Deputy Forrester then confirmed that Wesley had a revoked driver’s license through dispatch and GCIC. Deputy Forrester then advised Cpl. Burns he was going to charge Wesley with driving on a revoked license. Cpl. Burns then remembered Wesley was his mother’s caretaker (Cpl. Burns and Deputy Forrester have prior call history with Wesley and his mother). Cpl. Burns then attempted to figure out if Adult Protective services had removed Wesley’s mother from the house or if she was still living at [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Rd. Cpl. Burns and dispatch attempted to contact Adult Protective services where they had negative contact.
Cpl. Burns then responded to [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Rd to make sure Wesley’s mother still lived at this location and was okay. Cpl. Burns stated he couldn’t hear or see anyone at the residence. Deputy Forrester then asked Wesley if Cpl. Burns had consent to enter the residence to check on his mother. Wesley gave Cpl. Burns consent to enter the residence. Cpl. Burns then advised two dogs were inside and requested Deputy Forrester take Wesley back to his address to assist getting inside the house. Deputy Forrester then relocated to [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Rd. Deputy Forrester and Wesley walked to the front door of the residence and entered with Cpl. Burns. Deputy Forrester and Cpl. Burns checked the house for Wesley’s mother but had negative contact. Deputy Forrester asked Wesley if he was sure his mother still lived with him. Wesley stated yes.
Deputy Forrester then asked Wesley about the last time he saw his mother; he advised three or four hours ago. Cpl. Burns then went outside to check the area after the house had been cleared. Cpl. Burns advised he had contact with the mother outside and needed a MED unit enroute. Cpl. Burns advised Deputy Forrester to keep Wesley inside the residence. Deputy Forrester advised Cpl. Burns he would place Wesley back inside his patrol car so he could assist with Wesley’s mother. Deputy Forrester then asked Wesley if he would sit in the rear seat of his patrol vehicle so he could help Cpl. Burns look for his mother, Wesely agreed. Deputy Forrester then saw possible foul play due to Wesley’s mother [REDACTED BY AGENCY] bleeding profusely from her back. Cpl. Burns then took over the scene. Deputy Forrester and Wesley then returned to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to stand by with the Ford Explorer. Deputy Forrester then stood by until CID (criminal investigation division) took over the vehicle.
Deputy Forrester also spoke with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] again at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. She advised seeing Wesely’s vehicle pass by around 0930 or 1000 hours, she then advised last seeing his vehicle in the area around 1130 hours. CID investigator Nichols then arrived on scene and took over the vehicle. Deputy Forrester asked Investigator Nichols if they needed anything from Wesley or if he was good to go ahead and take Wesley to the Banks County Jail now that the scene was turned over to CID. Investigator Nichols advised Deputy Forrester he was good to take Wesley.
Deputy Forrester placed Wesley under arrest where he was searched incident to arrest, Wesley was placed into double locked handcuffs behind the back and was then transported to the Banks County Jail where he was turned over to Jail personnel and CID. Wesley was charged with driving on a revoked license, due to Deputy Forrester witnessing Wesley operate a motor vehicle on Moccasin Gap Rd. Wesley was traveling in the direction as if he was coming from his residence at [1400 BLOCK] Moccasin Gap Rd. Deputy Forrester obtained a warrant for the driving on a revoked license.
[End of Narrative]