NASCAR Driver John Wes Townley Shot Dead After Attacking His Ex Wife & Man With Hatchet

John Wes Townley Shot & Killed During Hatchet Altercation With His Ex Wife & Man

Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley was shot and killed in Georgia Saturday after allegedly attacking his ex-wife and her male acquaintance with a hatchet.

He is the son of the founder of chicken chain, Zaxby’s.

Athens-Clarke County police responded to a report of a woman with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. When they arrived, officers found Laura Townley John with a gunshot wound to the chest.

 

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“A preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Townley had arrived at this location and attacked [Zachary] Anderson and Ms. Townley with a hatchet,” states an Athens-Clarke County Police Department wrote in their report per PEOPLE. “The Townleys’ divorce had been finalized this week.”

Officer say Anderson allegedly fired several shots from his firearm — injuring both of them, but that he shot Laura accidentally.

“We are not ruling out that it is potentially a self-defense type incident,” ACCPD spokesperson Lt. Shaun Barnett told the outlet.

“Preliminary report indicates that to be the case. But, of course, it is still under investigation. It is very early on in the investigation.”