Parents discover teen son is shooting suspect, so they turn him in, Georgia cops say

A teenager wanted in a felony shooting case was turned in by his parents who drove him to the police department, according to investigators in south Georgia.

The suspect, 19-year-old Phillip Andrew McDonald, is accused of firing shots into the walls of a home, striking one person, the Valdosta Police Department said in a Jan. 7 news release.

It happened Dec. 19 at a home on Samuel Street in Valdosta, about a 230-mile drive southeast from Atlanta.

“When officers arrived at the house, they found a 20-year-old male, who had been shot in the upper leg. Officers immediately applied a tourniquet,” police said.

“Medical staff credited the first officers on the scene for saving the victim’s life by applying the tourniquet. ... The victim in this case is in stable condition.”

An investigation revealed the victim and another 19-year-old man were inside the home when bullets began flying through the walls, police said.

The shooting is believed to be the result of an “altercation” between McDonald and people in the home, detectives said.

Warrants were issued, charging McDonald with two counts of felony aggravated assault, felony aggravated battery, felony criminal damage to property, and felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, police said.

His parents brought him to the police department Jan. 3 and presented him to detectives, officials said.

“We are thankful that the parents turned their son in to authorities, which allowed for a safe apprehension.” Police Chief Leslie Manahan said in the release.

This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM with the headline "Parents discover teen son is shooting suspect, so they turn him in, Georgia cops say."