Possible Motive Explained in the Fatal Shooting of a 17-year-old Catoosa Co. Boy

RINGGOLD, GA ( WDEF )- Someone knocking … that’s the sound deputies say Fred Youngblood,69, heard Monday afternoon.

Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk, says, "I believe they knocked on a front door and a side door, and then he saw them go around to the back of the residence."

Sheriff Sisk is talking about two teenage boys, one sixteen, the other seventeen.

He says the boys went into Youngblood’s basement.

Youngblood followed the boys and confronted them.

Sheriff Sisk adds, "He had told them to get out of the house, and that’s when the individuals came out."

And while the boys did not have weapons, Sheriff Sisk believes they came after the homeowner.

That’s when Youngblood fired one shot.

It hit the 17-year-old in the side of the neck.

Sheriff Sisk adds, "The injured individual came up to the truck and collapsed, another male helped him get in the vehicle, the bed of the vehicle."

Deputies believe that’s when Ansley Chrnalogar, 18, slid into the driver’s seat and took off.

Several miles later the trio met emergency crews, and emergency personnel began trying to resuscitate their friend.

However, the 17-year-old died a short time later.

Sheriff Sisk adds, "I don’t feel like his actions were in malice or that he even possibly intended to kill one of them. He felt like he was protecting himself."

That’s why no charges are currently filed against Youngblood.

John Sinclair, a man who lives nearby, says, "It’s sad that he had to do that, but he definitely did the right thing."

Youngblood was not home Tuesday afternoon when we tried to reach him for comment.

As for the 17-year-old’s friends, well, they’re each charged with one count of felony burglary.

Sheriff Sisk adds, "They apparently over the last several days had been going around and had been stealing scrap metal and selling it to metal vendors."

It’s a possible motive that has some residents shaking their heads.