A Georgia man arrested last week for shooting two electricians working on his home has been charged with murder, after one of the men succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
According to Cobb County police, 68-year-old Larry Joel Epstein is accused of murdering a 21-year-old electrician apprentice, Jake Horne (pictured), who was taken off of life support on Sunday.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the victims, Horne and 37-year-old Gordon “Donnie” Montcalm, were trying to leave Epstein’s home after finishing electrical work for the day at his residence off of Wellington Lane in Marietta, according to Cobb County police.
Montcalm is a father of two daughters and a beloved member in his community. His family expressed shock over the incident and said he’s not the type of person to be involved in anything violent.
A family member told CrimeOnline that Montcalm, who is in serious condition but expected to be OK, said there wasn’t a dispute or argument before the ordeal. It’s unclear why the suspect allegedly started shooting.
The other victim, Horne, was Montcalm’s apprentice.
“Donnie was in his personal vehicle and heard something hit his car window. The [the suspect] had shot the boy [Jake Horne], who was parked by him sitting in the work van” the family member said. “When he [Donnie] turned around, he saw the man standing at his window. He was shot in the face and chest.”
“Donnie started running and the guy shot him in the back. He ran to a backyard but it was fenced in and the man shot him in the arm. Donnie tackled him when he went to reload, took off running and went to the neighbor’s house for help.”
Horne’s aunt, Lisa Godsey, who lives in California, told East Cobb News that Horne was a generous soul that was close to his younger sister, Sadie. Sadie and Horne’s parents apparently passed away in recent years, and the two relied on each other.
“This is a boy that would give you the shirt off of his back. He had a heart of gold,” Godsey told East Cobb News. “He thought of everyone else before himself.”
The motive remains unclear and investigators, who were still at the home on Thursday, haven’t said what led up to the shooting. Cobb detectives said the suspect shot with the intent to kill.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Cobb County Homicide Unit at 770-499-3945.
Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Jake Horne/Provided; Larry Epstein/Cobb County Sheriff’s Office]