A teenager in Savannah, Georgia, was shot while campaigning for Sen. Raphael Warnock. The suspect was taken into custody on Thursday, according to local authorities.
The shooting comes before a Senate election run-off Tuesday, which is expected to be highly contested between Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger ex-NFL star Herschel Walker.
According to CNN, a record 300,000 Georgians have voted early every day this past week. Black voters have made up nearly a third of the early electorate, while more than a quarter of voters are under 50.
The teen canvassing for Warnock approached the front door of a residence on Wednesday when the suspect, a 42-year-old Savannah man, shot through the closed front door, hitting the 15-year-old victim.
“At this point, there is no indication the shooting was politically motivated,” the Savannah Police Department (SPD) said in a press release.
SPD officers responded to an emergency call where they discovered the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. He was then transported to the nearby Memorial Medical Center, where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
The identity of the suspect, Jimmy Paiz, was revealed Thursday. Paiz was promptly booked into the Chatham County jail on charges of aggravated assault and battery.
“I am saddened to learn about this incident. I am praying for the victim and their family and wish them a full recovery,” Senator Warnock said in a statement provided through his communication team to the Savannah Morning News.
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