East Cobb shooting Archives

Gordon Montcalm, East Cobb shooting survivor

The electrical contractor who survived a shooting allegedly committed by an East Cobb homeowner last week is beginning what appears to be a long recovery, according to information posted with a fundraising appeal for medical and other expenses.

In a GoFundMe page, friends and family of Gordon Montcalm (center, above) said he was shot five times: Once in the face, once in the chest, twice in the arm and once in the back.

Montcalm, 37, of Buchanan, Ga., was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital after he and his apprentice, Jake Horne, 21, of Kennesaw, were shot at the end of their working day at a home on Wellington Lane on Wednesday.

Horne, who was shot in the head, was taken off life support and died on Thursday, according to his family members.

The homeowner, Larry Epstein, 69, of 1963 Wellington Lane, was initially charged with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault.

After Horne died, Epstein also was charged with one count of felony murder, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office. He remains in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, and is scheduled to have a hearing March 26.

Police previously said Montcalm was in serious condition at Kennestone. The fundraising note said the man who’s known as “Donnie” will be out of work indefinitely, his wife is taking off work to care for him and the couple has a daughter in high school: “There is so much financial struggle going on right now. . . . and there are many expenses that go along with that they are not going to be able to afford.”

The fundraising goal is $4,000.

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Wellington Lane, East Cobb shooting

UPDATED THURSDAY, 9:55 A.M.

Cobb Police are saying this morning that the two people shot suffered serious injuries and were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

They are Gordon Montcalm, 37, of Buchanan, Ga., and Jake Horne, 21, of Kennesaw. Officer Neil Penirelli, a spokesman for Cobb Police, said Montcalm suffered multiple gunshot wounds and Horne was shot in the head.

Both men were at the Wellington Lane home doing electrical contracting work, and the shootings took place as they were trying to leave the residence at the end of the work day, around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

UPDATED, THURSDAY, 8:50 A.M.:

We’re still awaiting further information from Cobb Police about Wednesday’s double shooting in an East Cobb neighborhood, but Cobb Sheriff’s Office records show that a Wellington Lane resident was booked overnight.

He’s Larry Epstein, age 68, of 1963 Wellington Lane. He’s facing four felony counts, two for aggravated assault, and two for aggravated battery, and is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

UPDATED, 4:30 P.M.:

A man has been taken into custody and the two people shot have been taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital. No names or conditions of any of the individuals have been released.

Cobb Police said the incident resulted from a dispute with home contractors and that another person was questioned as a witness.

Sgt. Wayne Delk of Cobb Police said that the Crimes Against Persons Unit is continuing the investigation as law enforcement personnel are leaving the scene.

ORIGINAL STORY, 3:25 P.M.:

Cobb Police are at the scene of a double shooting at a residence on Wellington Lane in East Cobb.

Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, told East Cobb News around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday that two people have been shot, but there’s no word yet on their condition.

He said that’s all the information he has for the moment, including a specific address.

A reader told East Cobb News there’s heavy police presence on that street, and that she saw SWAT personnel headed to the scene.

Wellington Lane is a residential street in the Kensington subdivision, south of Oak Lane and north of Sewell Mill Road.

A Kensington resident told East Cobb News that “they have us pretty blocked in but not giving any info. They are in SWAT gear with guns drawn.”

She said police have been on the scene since right before 3 p.m.

The police presence included a mobile command truck.

Cobb DOT is saying there are major traffic delays along Johnson Ferry northbound near Sewell Mill Road due to the police activity.

We’ll be updating this story.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!