Four-Year-Old’s Death Being Investigated As a 2nd Degree Murder

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. – Paulding Detectives arrest a local man on Second Degree Murder charges in the death of a four-year-old female juvenile. Paulding E-911 received a call on Friday August 30, 2024 at approximately 2:40 AM regarding a four-year-old who had fallen and needed medical attention.

When first responders arrived, they realized this was more than just a child who had fallen and gotten injured. Deputies and Detectives arrived at 152 Village Drive Hiram, GA 30141 and discovered that the four-year-old had an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Unfortunately, the child was beyond help and was pronounced deceased by the Paulding County Coroner’s Office early that morning. Detectives then began speaking with the adults who were in the home. It was then that they discovered that an adult sibling to the four-year-old had left his gun unattended and that the child must have retrieved it and accidently shot herself. Because the adult negligently left the gun unattended, he was subsequently arrested and charged with the following offenses:

Joseph Edwin Hinson (W/M, 20 YOA)
-Cruelty To Children 2nd Degree
-Murder 2nd Degree

Hinson is currently being held in the Paulding County Jail without bond. Detectives would like to make sure everyone knows that this is still an open and active investigation. Furthermore, Detectives would like to encourage anyone who has information about this case to please call the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (770) 443-3047 or send a message via the Paulding Sheriff mobile app.