Members of a family in Georgia who own multiple paving companies across the Peach State are accused of launching a “Sopranos-like” attack with a gun and baseball bats on workers of a rival paving business in broad daylight.
Six members of the Buckland family were arrested on Dec. 19 after they spotted workers from EH Paving on a job by one of their houses in Monroe County, and they found it “disrespectful,” according to an incident report obtained by WMAZ.
“Like something out of the Sopranos,” Monroe County sheriff Brad Freeman told the outlet.
The six men allegedly confronted the crew as they arrived at the property with bats, sticks and other weapons before an argument broke out between the two companies, the property owner told police.
Mark Buckland Sr., 77, is accused of pulling out a “long cowboy-style gun” at the EH Paving workers, who are based in Southeast Georgia, and then firing off two shots into the woods in an attempt to intimidate them.
The situation then turned from threats to a full-on attack when his son, Mark Buckland Jr., 58, allegedly incited a brawl.
Willy Buckland Sr., 50, allegedly hit one of the sons of the owner of EH Paving in the head with a bat during the melee.
The owner of EH Paving, who has not been identified, told WMAZ that Willy Buckland Jr., 22, and James Small, 21 — Buckland Sr.’s son-in-law — then attacked his other son, and that Luke Buckland, 28, attacked his nephew.
He said his two sons and nephew suffered knots, bruises, and other minor injuries following the attack, and one of them was hurt so severely that he vomited and reported being light-headed after being assaulted and needed to be taken to the hospital.
Mark Buckland Sr. has been charged with pointing or aiming a gun or pistol at another person, criminal trespass, and tampering with evidence, according to jail records.
Mark Buckland Jr. is charged with inciting a riot, criminal trespass, and simple battery, and Willy Buckland Sr. is charged with aggravated assault and criminal trespass.
The rest of the Buckland family has been charged with simple battery and criminal trespass.
The Bucklands and Small were released after posting a bond on Dec. 21.
The owner of EH Paving claims the Bucklands had been following him and his workers previously and have started fights with them at job sites.
“These are adult men too,” Freeman told WMAZ. “Adult men with pretty good reputations.”
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