Man charged in shooting of friend released on bond

The Nicholson man arrested and charged with shooting his friend during an argument was released from the Jackson County Jail on $25,000 bond.

Michael Grady Miller, 62, was booked into jail Wednesday afternoon on an aggravated assault charge and bonded out Thursday afternoon.

The victim - Ricky Beatty, 26, of Jefferson - remains hospitalized, but his condition is stable, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Beatty and Miller were sitting outside Miller's home with Beatty's girlfriend and another woman shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday when the two men started to argue and then to fight, said Maj. David Cochran of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

"It was a domestic argument," Cochran said. "It involved something about the females not wanting leave, but I'd rather not go any farther than that."

During the fight, Miller - who Cochran said had been drinking - pulled out a handgun and shot Beatty, he said.

Beatty had several gunshot wounds and was in critical condition when emergency responders arrived, according to Jackson County Emergency Services. Paramedics took him to a helicopter, which flew him to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where he underwent surgery.

After the shooting, while Beatty was evacuated, Miller went inside his house, according to a sheriff's deputy's report.

Deputies surrounded the house, and Miller surrendered about 30 minutes later, according to Nicholson residents who witnessed the standoff.

Sheriff's investigators would not comment on the relationship between Beatty and Miller, except to say they were friends.

Beatty was the only person injured in the shooting.

Comment on "Man charged in shooting of friend released on bond"