(Paulding County, GA) Paulding Detectives along with Agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) make an arrest in a fatal shooting that occurred in western Paulding County.
On Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 3:32 AM Paulding E-911 was called reporting that a shooting had occurred at 1789 Crossroads Church Road Rockmart, GA 30153 which is within unincorporated Paulding County. When Deputies arrived on scene they discovered that three individuals had been shot and that one of them was deceased.
Once Detectives and GBI Agents were able to process the scene and speak with the victims and witnesses, they were able to piece together what occurred during the incident.
Brandon Eugene Donaldson (W/M, 38 YOA) was at 1789 Crossroads Church Road sleeping in his vehicle in the driveway. According to what Detectives and Agents were able to determine by speaking with witnesses and the victim, Troy Douglas Sparks (W/M, 34 YOA) and Brandon Michael Stephens (W/M, 35 YOA) had previous issues with Donaldson.
While Donaldson was asleep in his vehicle, Sparks and Stephens broke out the window of the vehicle and began assaulting Donaldson with a blunt object. As a result of the assault, gunfire was exchanged between Donaldson and Stephens.
At the conclusion of the gunfire, Donaldson (victim) had been shot, Sparks (aggressor) had been shot, and Stephens (aggressor) was fatally wounded by gunfire. After reviewing the facts, and evidence, and conducting interviews with witnesses, Detectives and Agents determined that Donaldson was acting in self-defense. As a result of the initial Aggravated Assault that Sparks and Stephens committed against Donaldson, by beating him with a blunt object, Sparks was arrested and charged with the following offenses:

Troy Eugene Sparks (W/M, 34 YOA)

• Murder (F)
• Aggravated Assault (F)
• Warrant – Cobb County

Detectives and Agents want to make sure that the community is aware that this is an open and active investigation. As the investigation progresses, there may be additional arrests made and more charges taken against the suspect. Detectives and Agents also want to encourage anyone who may have any additional information about this case to please call the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Tip Line at (770) 443-3047 or send a message via the Paulding Sheriff mobile app.