According to family thanks to new evidence presented by the assistant district attorney Daniel Dean Vaughn, 44, of Ringgold, has now been indicted. Court records show, Vaughn is being charged with 2 counts of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, discharging firearms on or near a public highway or street, and reckless conduct. Vaughn was booked into the Catoosa County Jail on January 5th, 2023.
In 2022, A Catoosa Grand Jury has declined to indict the Daniel Vaughn involved in a road rage altercation on Sept. 6, 2021, that resulted in the shooting death of Jack Chandler Pedigo. The Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter and handed the case to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review. District Attorney Chris Arnt continued the investigation and brought the case to a Grand Jury to determine if there was sufficient evidence of a crime to support criminal charges against the shooter.
The Grand Jury was tasked to determine if any Georgia criminal laws had been violated during this incident. Grand jury proceedings are confidential under Georgia law, so details of their deliberation are not public. The role of the District Attorney is to pursue justice by reviewing the facts and evidence in this and every potential criminal matter brought to its office, it was stated. DA Arnt said, “This is a tragic case for everyone involved in this matter. I have met with Mr. Pedigo’s family to discuss the matter, and they are heart-broken over the loss of their loved one. “While this is a terrible situation, Georgia’s self-defense laws are very clear. Under the law, when someone claims self-defense in a matter like the shooter did in this case, prosecutors must have the evidence to prove two important criminal elements. Did the shooter initiate the confrontation and did he believe his life or others was in imminent danger due to the behavior of the deceased. The question of whether the shooter’s beliefs were reasonable is a matter to be determined by the jury. “My office presented the facts and evidence to the Grand Jury and they made their decision. Despite the limitations I have in providing more information to the public about this matter, it’s important for the community to know that I take each of these situations seriously and I address them without fear or favor.”
According to the original press release from the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office back in 2021, “detectives are continuing their investigation into road rage incidents Monday night that ended with the shooting death of 34-year-old Jack Pedigo. Sheriff Gary Sisk said heated words were exchanged between Pedigo and Daniel Vaughn at about 8:11 p.m. Monday while they were on Battlefield Parkway. An investigation shows that Pedigo followed Vaughn and his wife to their home at 236 Elm Ave. when another heated exchange of words and threats erupted. Pedigo then left Elm Avenue and went to his home off of Three Notch Road. Vaughn called 911 and reported the incident and the Sheriff’s Office placed a “lookout” on Pedigo’s vehicle. At about 9:26 p.m. Pedigo returned to 236 Elm Ave. and more heated words were exchanged. Vaughn then fired a weapon, killing Pedigo. Sheriff Sisk said, “This appears to be a tragic event that is a result of a couple of strangers who lost control of their emotions in a war of words.” He said that no charges have been filed at this time as detectives continue their investigation.”