Secretary of State's communications director's home hit by bullets
Atlanta Police officers investigate a shooting scene and canvass for shell casings along Wellington Street SW near the Atlanta Beltline in Southwest Atlanta on August 6, 2026, where two suspects were taken into custody following an exchange of gunfir
ATLANTA - Two men are in custody after police say they exchanged gunfire near the Atlanta Beltline early Thursday morning, sending bullets into a nearby home.
What we know:
The shooting happened shortly after midnight on Wellington Street SW. Witnesses flagged down arriving officers and reported seeing two men firing guns toward the property. Bullets also struck a nearby home.
Police then spotted two men matching the witness descriptions walking nearby. When officers approached, both men ran, prompting a short foot chase before officers detained them.
Authorities identified the men as Gregory O'Neal Vaughn, 26, and Jermaine Darcel Howard, 29. Officers recovered a firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition from Howard. Police confirmed both men face multiple pending charges and noted that preliminary evidence shows the shooting was not politically motivated.
It was later revealed that the home is occupied by Robert Sinners, who works for Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, as his communications director. Sinners was asleep inside the home at the time with his fiancée. Sinners spoke to FOX 5 Atlanta about the experience.
Rober Sinners' home struck by bullets
The home of Robert Sinners, who works for Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, talks about his home being struck by multiple bullets during a shootout this week.
No injuries were reported.
What we don't know:
Police have not released the specific charges against Vaughn or Howard. Authorities have not disclosed what led to the gunfire or whether the suspects targeted the property.
What's next:
Both men remain in custody while the investigation continues.