Police: Shooter released after firing on his neighbor inside Home Depot

HIRAM, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The man who shot his next-door neighbor at the Hiram Home Depot has been questioned and released, while his neighbor underwent emergency surgery after being shot in the torso Friday.

Detectives with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said two men got into an argument in the Garden Center at the store on Depot Drive in Hiram about 8:45 a.m., and the fight moved inside the store and became physical. One of the men fired a shot, striking the other man in the torso.

Witnesses told FOX 5 News the victim walked up to the customer service desk, said “I have been shot,” and asked for help. He was taken to a hospital. An off-duty EMT jumped in to help.

Constance Davis and her elderly mother were just feet away from the commotion.

"It was loud. Pop. You know how a gun sounds. Then people started running out of the store. I said mother we better go. I finally got my mother in the car, it was scary. I cannot believe how close we were," Davis remarked.

Detectives took the 62-year-old shooter in for questioning but later released him. He told authorities he fired in self-defense. Investigators are talking with witnesses to collaborate the shooter's story.

Witnesses told FOX 5 News the ongoing dispute has lasted for years.

Authorities said neither of the men was a Home Depot employee, and no one else was injured.

The sheriff department said as long as you have registered your weapon, you may carry it inside Home Depot.