Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley has died at the age of 31.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Townley was shot and killed Saturday night in the Athens Five Points area of Georgia. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Former NASCAR driver, son of Zaxby’s co-founder killed in Athens shooting https://t.co/ugYEPIAF4L
— Athens Banner-Herald (@onlineathens) October 3, 2021
An Athens-Clarke County Police Department spokesperson announced that authorities responded to the shooting and transported the former race driver and an unnamed woman to the hospital. He later died of his wounds and she’s also in a serious medical state, according to the same report.
Police are aware of the unnamed shooter and have spoken to him, but at this time, he hasn’t been charged with anything, according to the same report.
Police believe the shooting might have been a domestic violence situation, and Townley might have been armed with an axe at the time of the shooting, according to Classic City News.
Former NASCAR driver John Wes Townley has died at the age of 31 after a shooting in Athens, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/MYvzXdRsqS
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 3, 2021
Obviously, there isn’t a ton of information out there right now, but it sounds like the details surrounding this situation will be wild when they come out.
The fact the police know the identity of the shooter but haven’t charged the person is very interesting to say the least.
The NASCAR community mourns the loss of John Wes Townley. pic.twitter.com/lHywk2Bd4Q
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 4, 2021
If the reporting about Townley being armed with an axe is true, then this case is going to get blown wide open.
It’s just tough to know what’s going on at the moment because the reporting is so limited.
Heartbroken for John Wes Townley’s family. Absolutely devastating.
Godspeed JWT.
— Kaitlyn Vincie (@kaitlynvincie) October 3, 2021
Keep checking back for more details on this developing situation as we have them.