UPDATE 2: The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has issued a narrative on the events that let to the death of Townley on Saturday night.
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— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) October 4, 2021
UPDATE 10-3-2021: John Wes Townley, a former professional stock car racer and son of Zaxby’s co-founder Tony Townley was killed in Athens Saturday night in what police said was a domestic violence incident.
According to Athens-Clarke County police Public Information Officer Lt. Shaun Barnett, at about 8:44 p.m. officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Morton Avenue regarding a shooting.
The house reportedly was occupied by a 30-year-old woman who was either Townley’s estranged or ex-wife, Laura Townley, and a 32-year-old Dunwoody man.
Townley was said by sources to have been armed with an axe when he entered the house at 240 Morton Avenue and the Dunwoody man fatally shot him and Laura Townley was accidently struck by gunfire.
See more at– Classic City News —
ORIGINAL POST 10-3-2021: Watkinsville native John Wes Townley was killed Saturday in a double shooting that occurred in the Athens Five Points area, Athens-Clarke County coroner Sonny Wilson confirmed to the Athens Banner-Herald.
Athens-Clarke County police responded to a shooting in the 200 block of Morton Avenue in the Five Points neighborhood just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, according to ACCPD spokesperson Lt. Shaun Barnett.
Townley, 31, and a 30-year-old female had been shot and were transported to a local hospital. Townley died of injuries at the hospital, Barnett confirmed.
Townley spent nearly a decade compete in multiple NASCAR national touring series, most notably winning a Camping World Truck Series race in Las Vegas in 2015.