John Barnes

Name:
Barnes, John Daniel

Date of Booking:
02/11/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
RECEIPT, POSSESSION OR TRANSFER OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON OR FELONY FIRST OFFENDER

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

OBSTRUCTING OR HINDERING PERSONS MAKING EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL

POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR KNIFE DURING COMMISSION OF OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CERTAIN FELONIES

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 2-11-2026, I, Deputy Shedd, while on patrol on Georgia Highway 15 near Mountain City, which is located within the jurisdiction of Rabun County, was dispatched to a 911 hang-up call from a female caller at [600 BLOCK] Stekoa Falls Road in Clayton, Georgia, also within Rabun County.

The Rabun County 911 center advised that they had received a call where the female caller was whispering the address to the operator, and there was a loud disturbance in the background. The female stated that someone was trying to take her phone, and the line disconnected before a callback was answered.

Based on this information, I responded emergently (blue lights and siren) to the scene. Due to other units being unavailable, I requested that the 911 center dispatch an officer from the City of Clayton Police Department to assist me. Upon arrival, I observed an adult white male, later identified as John Daniel Barnes, running through the house. CPL Ortega arrived shortly after, and I advised other units en route of the situation. I approached the residence, and the same male exited the front door.

John Barnes stated, “Just a little arguing is all.” When asked what the argument was about, he stated, using profane language, “f*cking dragging a*sing around all the god damn time.” I asked who was present, and he identified himself, his wife, and his step-daughter. When asked if the argument was verbal or physical, he stated it was “just verbal” and crossed his arms.

During this time, I observed the step-daughter mouthing and pointing toward me for help, but I could not understand what she was trying to communicate. He then secured a large dog, and Ortega and I entered the residence, where I spoke with two females, identified as [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2], both of Clayton, Georgia.

I asked what was going on, and [VICTIM #2] stated she did not know and did not know who had called. [VICTIM #1] then advised that she had called 911 and stated, “that he (John) tried to shoot my mom, he had a gun and was threatening her.” [VICTIM #2] asked if [VICTIM #1] called in a concerned manner. I asked for clarification again, and [VICTIM #2] stated John was “threatening stuff,” and [VICTIM #1] stated, “it was really bad.” [VICTIM #1] expressed fear for her mother, saying that John had threatened to “teach us a lesson.” I asked [VICTIM #1] to demonstrate how the gun was held, and both [VICTIM #1] and [VICTIM #2] confirmed that it was pointed at chest/head level.

[VICTIM #1] further stated that John brought the gun into her mother’s bedroom and asked, “How many bullets are you gonna need?” She explained that he attempted to take her phone while she was attempting to call 911. She was in the bathroom at the time and unlocked the door as John made multiple attempts to seize her phone. [VICTIM #1] stated, “I was trying to figure out whether I was calling 911 and who I was calling.” [VICTIM #2] confirmed the events but hesitated to elaborate further due to fear that John might be arrested.

I asked what had happened leading up to this, and [VICTIM #1] stated that it had been an ongoing argument starting around 5:30-6:00pm after they returned from a doctor’s appointment, and that the arguing had escalated. [VICTIM #1] advised that she had recordings of the incident and provided me with an audio recording of John screaming profanities at [VICTIM #2], time-stamped “TODAY 8:11 PM.”

I spoke with [VICTIM #2] as [VICTIM #1] was getting her phone, and she stated that her time had been occupied by her daughter, causing tension between her and John. [VICTIM #2] identified [VICTIM #1] as her daughter and John’s step-daughter. I then confirmed that the incident had occurred in [VICTIM #2]’s bedroom, and [VICTIM #1] had gone down the hallway, seeing John with the gun pointed at [VICTIM #2], and then went into the bathroom to call 911.

I then exited the house, Mirandized John, and he agreed to provide a statement without an attorney present. I asked John if he had been arrested before, and if so, for what. He responded, “all kinds of stuff,” and advised me that he had been arrested. John initially denied having a rifle. When asked about a rifle, he denied having a rifle and corrected me, stating it was a shotgun. He acknowledged having a Mossberg 500T 12-gauge shotgun and demonstrated how he held it by his side.

John admitted to yelling and making threatening statements during the argument, asking [VICTIM #2] how many rounds of ammunition would be needed while presenting the shotgun toward her in a threatening manner. I asked him where the shotgun was located inside the house. He described its location inside a bedroom, which had the name “[REDACTED]” in stickers on the doorway into the room.

I established that this was John’s room, with the house rented in his name, and his personal belongings were inside the room. I asked for consent to enter the room and obtain possession of the firearm, which John consented to, allowing me to do so. John advised that the shotgun was propped up inside the closet.

After receiving consent, I allowed John to enter the living room so he could withdraw his consent for me to enter; however, he did not do so, and I entered the bedroom indicated by John. I located the Mossberg 500T 12 -gauge shotgun (serial number #G344631) propped upright in a closet. Directly below the firearm were two boxes of Federal 12-gauge shotgun shells. The top box was open, and the shells inside were not neatly stacked, indicating they had been handled or moved recently. Both boxes were easily accessible, containing approximately 33 rounds. The shotgun was unloaded at the time of recovery. I documented the firearm and ammunition in the closet and then secured them.

The firearm and ammunition were secured at my patrol car, and I conducted a stolen records check on the shotgun, which confirmed that the firearm was not reported stolen. I asked John about the shotgun, and he expressed that he knew he could not possess a firearm due to being a convicted felon. I asked where he had obtained the shotgun and he said that his daughter had obtained it for him, as a gift around Christmas time.

I asked him about the ammunition and he identified that she had obtained a box for him, and a box had been supplied with the firearm. When asked why he had the firearm, he stated that he wanted to have something “around the house” to due “all of that stuff going on”. John also identified a amplifer inside the residence that had been gifted to him. Following the investigation on scene, John was placed under arrest for felon in possession of a firearm, hindering a 911 call, and terroristic threats, which was later adjusted to aggravated assault based on the facts of the incident.

Additionally, John was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony based on his status as a convicted felon. Both victims’ statements, the collected evidence, and audio recordings were attached to the case file. The incident was captured on a body-worn camera.

During the investigation, the victims expressed fear for their safety. [VICTIM #1] clearly articulated her fear of harm to her mother and herself, which prompted her to call 911. Both victims were instructed on completing witness statements in their own words, which were attached to the case file. The firearm and ammunition were logged into evidence at the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, with on-scene photographs taken to document their condition and accessibility.

Deputy Deason placed John in handcuffs at the rear, double-locking them, checking for equal spacing, and transported him to the Rabun County Detention Center. The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with oncall investigator Tatum regarding the ammunition due to its direct connection to John’s threatening statements, and she advised that it be collected and placed into evidence as physical evidence for the case.

John Daniel Barnes was charged with the following offenses:

1. Aggravated Assault
2. Felon in possession of a firearm
3. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
4. Hindering/obstructing persons from placing an emergency 911 call

[End of Narrative]