W.L. Salter, Jr.

(1934 -2010)
Mitchell M. Shook, PC
Susan Salter Shook, PC
C. Lewis Tippett
Paul W. Calhoun, III, LLC

ATTORNEYS AT LAW
www.vidalialaw.com

407 Randolph Drive

PO Drawer 300
Vidalia, GA 30475
Telephone: 912-537-1448
Fax: 912-537-0829
Email: mitchshook@vidalialaw.com
lynnsheffield@vidalialaw.com

June 24, 2015

THE FOLLOWING IS AN AUTHORIZED STATEMENT ISSUED BY ATTORNEY

MITCH SHOOK ON BEHALF OF TERESA HOOKS AND THE DAVID HOOKS
FAMILY.
On behalf of the Hooks family, I would like to express the familys concern over the recent
presentment from the committee of grand jury members investigating the Laurens County
Sheriffs Office. The first concern is simply the lack of amount of evidence presented during the
meeting which only lasted approximately 12 hours. We had hoped that all the evidence would
have been presented to the grand jury which obviously was not the case. Neither the Sheriff nor
any law enforcement officer directly involved testified before this committee. What was
presented to this committee was the statements given by the officers to the GBI. The committee
of grand jurors was not told that each one of these officers met privately with the same attorney
for several hours prior to them giving their statements to the GBI. Despite the opportunity to
get their stories straight, these recorded statements are significantly inconsistent with each
other.
Secondly, we are concerned that the failure to present this committee of grand jurors with all
the evidence has caused this committee to make findings that we know to be in contrast to what
the real evidence is in this case.
Thirdly, it is obvious that certain evidence we deemed to be important was completely omitted
from this committees consideration. It should be noted that the only person present at the scene
the night David Hooks was killed who testified before this committee of grand jurors was
Teresa Hooks.
This committee of grand jurors was not told that the District Attorney in Laurens County
ordered Sheriff Bill Harrell to have all his officers drug tested immediately after David Hooks
was killed. Despite this order, the Sheriff refused to have any of his officers drug tested or
undergo a drug test himself. This committee of grand jurors was obviously never told that the
test that purports to show methamphetamine in David Hooks system was done during his
autopsy. That David actually lived from the time he was shot down at 10:55 p.m. until
approximately 3:15 a.m. the next morning. During that period to time, he was administered
many different drugs in attempt to save his life. Furthermore, the committee of grand jurors was
not notified that David Hooks had been taking prescription medication which will test positive
for amphetamine and methamphetamine. These medications were in the home at the time the
GBI searched the Hooks residence.

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Finally, we are very concerned that this committee of grand jurors failed to consider the
stippling on the wound to the back of David Hooks. They failed to mention this at all and we are
concerned that they were never informed about the stippling which general means the shot was
fired at very close range.
As previously stated, none of the individuals involved in this case has testified under oath
thus far in this case. We look forwarded to continuing our journey toward Justice for David
Hooks and look forward to the day when these individuals will be examined under oath in front
of a Judge and jury in the United States District Court.

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