Epworth Man Charged with Murder Following Fatal Shooting

EPWORTH, Ga. (October 10, 2025) — A Fannin County man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in Epworth, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Authorities say William Joseph Woods, 58, of Epworth, has been charged with Felony Murder, Malice Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony following the death of Douglas Harper, 41, also of Epworth.

The incident occurred on Thursday, October 9, when the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of gunfire around 7:15 p.m. Deputies, along with officers from the McCaysville Police Department, responded to the 1300 block of Old Epworth Road, where they found Harper deceased in the front yard of a home from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

Investigators identified Woods as the shooter at the scene. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Fannin County Jail, where he remains held.

The GBI said an autopsy will be performed at the state crime lab to determine Harper’s exact cause of death.

Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution.

The GBI and local law enforcement have not released additional details about the events leading up to the shooting or any potential motive.