3 arrested in fatal Paulding County shooting

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities have arrested three suspects after a man was shot to death while riding his motorcycle in Paulding County.

Deputies say James Nicholson, 22, Carlos Hightower, 26, and Magan Carroll, 24, are all charged with felony murder in the death of 31-year-old Ronald Morgan. The suspects were taken into custody Friday morning, and are being held without bond at the Paulding County Detention Center.

Around 4:17 a.m. on January 20, deputies responded to a reported shooting on Holly Springs Road in Rockmart. Upon arrival, they found Morgan dead in a ditch. 

Alan Higgins, who lives in the neighborhood, said he heard a total of 8 gunshots.

“I heard 5 gunshots, then after a minute or two I heard 3 gunshots,” said Higgins.

When he walked outside his house, he saw a motorcycle in the ditch and a Morgan's body also in the ditch, several feet behind the bike.

“The male was shot while he was riding his motorcycle and he crashed into the ditch and passed away,” said Sgt. Ashley Henson with the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives say the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Morgan and the suspects over property.

Authorities say more charges are possible. 

For Alan Higgins and others who live nearby, the violent death is just too close to home.

“Yeah, it is, especially out here in the country,” said Higgins.

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