Walton County Back in the National Spotlight Over Shooting

For a while, Loganville and Walton County dominated national headlines following the shooting of Paul Slater by Melinda Herman after he broke into her home.

Then things quietened down. Slater recovered, was sentenced and is now serving at least 10 of the 25-year sentence he received, according to Alcovy Circuit Court District Attorney Layla Zon.

In the meantime, the battle between the National Rifle Association and the Obama Administration rages on in the wake of the Newtown shooting tragedy. The Herman case is often cited in support of gun rights, as the other side of the story. The Washington Post had an in depth article on May 4 that gives an insight to just how many victims Slater left in his wake when he decided to break into the Herman home.

Besides Herman and her children, his actions also left a community fearful. But seldom mentioned victims included his wife and six children - one of the reasons he cited in his defense for breaking into the Herman home in the first place. His actions, however, did not help her at all.

According to The Washington Post article, Zakai Slater, a 37-year-old elementary school teacher, is left driving a vehicle that was wrecked by Slater when he tried to escape after being shot. She has some of his bills to take care of and six mouths to feed on her own now. She also is worried about her own security. So much so, according to The Washington Post, that she went to a pawn shop and purchase a gun of her own.

The Washington Post article puts the spotlight back on the Walton County community and how the events that day in January changed it for so many people. 

Read the full story here.

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