Guns Save Lives – Part 259,345
by Bill Simon
By Joe Johnson
joe.johnson@onlineathens.com
Monday, September 10, 2007
(COMER, GEORGIA) – James “Dink” Hendricks’ home sat unoccupied since the 82-year-old widower died in June, and on Friday, someone took the opportunity to break into the house on the fringe of downtown Comer to steal cash, jewelry and other valuables.
Hendricks’ son moved in the next day to guard the house at the corner of Sims and Gholston streets, and shortly after midnight Sunday, Jerry Hendricks shot and killed a burglar who broke in again, state and local officials said.
It appears the shooting death of 41-year-old William Keith Parks will be ruled a justifiable homicide, according to officials, who said a final determination won’t be made until after investigators review results from an autopsy performed Monday at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Crime Lab in Decatur.
“That’s kind of the way we’re looking at it,” said Mike Ayers, assistant special agent in charge of the GBI’s Athens field office.
Violent crime is rare in the Madison County community, which was abuzz Monday as news of the shooting spread.
“It took us all by surprise,” said Hendricks’ neighbor. Barbara Bendzunas. “My phone has been ringing off the hook all morning from people calling wanting to know what happened.”
Bendzunas and her husband, Paul, own Bendzunas Glass Studio and Gallery located in front of their sprawling Double Creek Farm, adjacent to Jerry and Kathy Hendricks’ property.
“The Hendricks’ pretty much keep to themselves, but they’re real nice folks,” said Barbara Bendzunas, who also raises horses and years earlier gave riding lessons to Jerry Hendricks’ son.
The expansive art studio was wide open and unattended Monday morning as Bendzunas looked after horses in stables near her house, down a dirt road about a quarter of a mile behind the art gallery.
“We’re going to be locking our doors now,” said Bendzunas, who admitted to cocking her own shotgun “many a night” upon hearing noises that usually turned out to have been made by a dog or other animal.
“The Comer Police Department has only two officers,” she said. “It’s not like you can call the a beat officer and they’ll be here right away.”
Deborah Brewster knows the dangers of city living, having stayed in Roswell and Sandy Springs, and it was the “bohemian” atmosphere of downtown Comer combined with the rural outskirts that brought her to open Funky Junction antiques on North Avenue two years ago.
But she’s had to call on Madison County authorities to report “shady” characters she’s seen climbing the stairs past her shop to the apartments above, people she said bear the hallmarks of methamphetamine addicts.
“I’m telling you, it’s the meth,” Brewster said. “You look into their eyes, and you’re looking at death. Comer is changing. The city is moving out here, and the crime is following.”
Comer Police Chief Brent Zellner couldn’t recall the last time there was a homicide within the city limits, but he said burglaries and property crimes are on the rise, in large part due to drug addicts looking to finance their habits.
“I’m sure that could have had something to do with it,” Zellner said of the break-in that resulted in Parks’ death. “Meth is here; it’s everywhere. (Parks) may have been associated with something to that effect.”
Madison County Sheriff Clayton Lowe said Jerry Hendricks, who lived next door to his father’s house, was sleeping on a living room couch when awakened at about 12:30 a.m. by the sound of breaking glass in a back door.
Hendricks opened fire on the intruder, who was killed by a single shotgun blast to his chest from close range, Lowe said.
“He fired pretty much to protect his own interests,” the sheriff said.
Lowe said he didn’t know if Parks was responsible for Friday night’s burglary, and he said Parks and Hendricks did not know each other.
Hendricks was staying in his father’s house with his wife, who called 911, officials said, and Parks was pronounced dead at the scene.
Parks, of Carlton, had an extensive criminal history that included arrests for burglaries and drug possession, officials said.
Parks was released from jail just last month after he was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a commercial building down the block from Hendricks’ house, Platoon Uniforms & Sportswear Inc., according to Lowe.
“He was wanted on an auto theft warrant when he was shot and killed,” the sheriff said.
Ayers said the GBI will present its report of the shooting to Madison County District Attorney Bob Lavender, who will decide whether to bring charges or not.
Ayers said the fatal shooting appeared to have been justified “on the face of it,” as Parks broke into the house and refused Hendricks’ order to leave.
“Our understanding is there was a verbal challenge that was not complied with,” the agent said.
Jerry and Kathy Hendricks were not at home and could not be reached Monday.
Lowe said Jerry Hendricks was “laying low” after what happened because he was deeply disturbed that he took someone’s life.
“He’s broke down about it,” the sheriff said.
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 09-11-07
