A former college professor has been arrested and charged with the murder of an 18-year old incoming freshman at the college where he worked.
Richard Sigman, who was a professor at the University of West Georgia, was arrested on multiple charges including “murder, aggravated assault x 3, and possession of a firearm during the commission of crime.
The Carrollton Police Department said, “We arrested Sigman for his involvement in the ultimate death of Anna Jones.”
On Saturday, July 30 around 12:27 a.m., officers responded to Tanner Medical Center after reports of a female with a gunshot wound.
Police stated, “Based on initial information, the shooting occurred after two men, including Sigman, got into an altercation.”
The police officer’s statement continued to say, “Callers advised the incident occurred off Adamson Square in the courthouse parking deck. Preliminary information indicates that Sigman and another male got into a verbal altercation at Leopoldo’s. The male notified security that Sigman threatened to shoot him. Security approached Sigman, saw he had a weapon, and told him to leave. Sigman then left walking toward the parking deck.”
According to collected evidence, police believe that Sigman walked into the parking deck and then randomly shot his gun into a parked vehicle hitting Jones. Friends immediately drove her to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Meredith Browning, the public information officer for the Carrollton Police Department told media, “The three counts of aggravated assault were for the three females inside the vehicle, including Jones, who was in the front seat.”
Browning went on to explain, “Jones did not know Sigman at all. The department as well as the University of West Georgia said she was an incoming freshman at the university.”
Jones had recently graduated from Mount Zion High School, which shared the news of her death on Facebook.
“It is with great sadness that we write to inform you of the passing of Anna Jones, a recent Class of 2022 graduate of MZHS,” the post read. “Anna loved this school and this community and she will be missed dearly by many.”
The school also linked to a GoFundMe which was set up over the weekend to help with funeral costs.
“She was a beautiful, sweet soul and her smile would light up a room! As with most parents, you never think that you will need life insurance for your child,” the description for the fundraiser reads. “This was a devastating and senseless crime that left a lot of hearts broken, a community mourning, and a family grieving.”
