Fatal Shooting In Ellijay

An Ellijay man was fatally shot last night at an apartment complex on 171 Boardtown Road in Ellijay. According to Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan, the call was received at 7:03 P.M. last night. The victim, Justin Cowart a white male in his early 20s, was shot by Jennie Marie Taylor, a 29 year old white female. The shooting took place at Ms. Taylor’s residence, when Cowart tried to enter the apartment, Callahan confirmed.FYN also learned today from an Anonymous source that Cowart was reportedly trying to break into the home of his ex girlfriend Marie Taylor. The source told FYN that Cowart kicked down the door of Taylor’s apartment building, and then Taylor shot Cowart in self defense after first firing one warning shot to try and get Cowart to leave. Also, FYN was told that Taylor was forced to shoot Cowart in self defense because Cowart was trying to take the gun out of her hands.

A neighbor and Taylor placed the call. Cowart was then taken to the North Georgia Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Callahan said the two were in a relationship prior to the shooting, adding the two had sporadically lived together, but could not confirm whether they were living together at the time of the shooting. Otherwise, Callahan explained he could not go into detail. At this point, no charges have been filed, Callahan said, but noted,

“There are some investigation leads that we’re still following up.”

The open case is a joint investigation, involving the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), the Ellijay Police Department and the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office.
FYN will follow this story as it develops.