A man who allegedly beat a driver with a handgun during a road rage confrontation near Cumberland Boulevard and Cobb Parkway in June has been identified and charged with felony aggravated battery, the Smyrna Police Department announced.
Police named Frederick Hammonds as the passenger who attacked a man in his 50s on June 27 after a traffic dispute turned violent along the Cobb Parkway corridor, a major route connecting East Cobb to I-285.
Smyrna police obtained a warrant for Hammonds' arrest on Saturday, Aug. 15, according to the Marietta Daily Journal. Atlanta News First reported on Friday, Aug. 14, that police had arrested Hammonds. But as of Aug. 16, Hammonds did not appear in Cobb County jail records, and police had not confirmed whether he was in custody, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.
How the attack unfolded
The June 27 incident began when one car cut off another near Cumberland Boulevard and Cobb Parkway, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The victim, a man in his 50s, noticed a silver vehicle following him and stopped. Hammonds stepped out of the passenger side, pulled a handgun and struck the driver repeatedly in the head, knocking him to the ground, according to video released by Smyrna Public Safety.
The victim staggered to his feet before collapsing again. He was taken to a hospital and required surgery for a hip injury, according to an arrest warrant.
"The driver of vehicle one was beaten pretty badly, pistol whipped with a firearm and he sustained significant injuries that required him to have surgery," Smyrna Police Lt. Meredith Holt told Fox 5 Atlanta on Aug. 3, when investigators were still trying to identify the attacker.
Obstruction charge led to identification
Police identified the driver of the silver car as 18-year-old Hayle Kirkpatrick. She was charged with obstruction after refusing to cooperate with detectives trying to identify her passenger, according to WSB-TV.
Investigators eventually identified Hammonds and charged him with one count of aggravated battery.
No court date for Hammonds or Kirkpatrick has been announced. Anyone with additional information can contact Smyrna Police Detective Eric Schum at (678) 631-5416 or [email protected].
