A Georgia groom claimed self-defense after shooting and killing his bride’s stepfather on their wedding day, but now he’s been charged with murder.
Aaron White fatally wounded his father-in-law-to-be in July 2024, hours after he wed Kailagh White in Butts County.
Jason Maughon was shot seven times in the woods near the wedding reception, while White sustained a bullet wound to his hand, reported WSB-TV.
‘Last time I saw him, he was threatening to cut me,’ White told the outlet. ‘So it’s a fear for my life.’
A grand jury found White acted in self-defense, but Butts County District Attorney Jonathan Adams chose to take the case further, indicting White for felony murder and aggravated assault on Wednesday.
White called his recent indictment ‘gut-wrenching.’
‘It really makes you second-guess having to defend yourself,’ he said.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said the dispute began when Kailagh confronted a drunk guest after the ceremony and asked them to leave.
Aaron White (right) shot his new bride Kailagh White’s stepfather on their wedding day
Jason Maughon was found dead in the woods in Butts County, Georgia with seven bullet wounds
White tried to intervene, but Maughon allegedly punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Minutes later, Maughon and the drunk relative returned in separate cars and the unnamed relative fired a gun, hitting White in the hand while Maughon charged at him, reported WSB-TV.
White fled to his truck to grab his own weapon and began firing shots.
‘I defended myself and everybody else,’ he said.
Maughon was found dead in the woods with several gunshot wounds.
District Attorney Adams said the new indictment was no longer a matter of self-defense.
White was indicted on Wednesday for felony murder and aggravated assault
White was reportedly shot in the hand by an unnamed relative during the wedding reception
Maughon, White and another relative reportedly tussled in the woods at the wedding reception
‘I think the question is not self-defense, the question is lawful use of deadly force,’ he said.
Sheriff Long disagreed with Adams’ decision.
‘There’s an innocent man in my jail,’ he said. ‘If I sit and say nothing, what good am I doing as sheriff?’
The longtime sheriff called White’s actions the ‘clearest case of self-defense’ he had seen.
White’s attorney Bret Dunn, also opposed Adams’ decision, calling it ‘politically motivated.’
Adams is running for Circuit Court Judge in Butts County.
Maughon’s family reportedly ridiculed county officials on social media after his killing was ruled as self-defense
White admitted to shooting his stepfather in law but claimed he acted in self-defense
‘I think the only one who has political gain in this is a defense attorney who’s running for state senate. And Brett Dunn is that person,’ Adams fired back.
A Judge set a $100,000 bond for White, which Maughon’s family said was ‘low for what he did.’
He was released on Wednesday.
Kailagh stood by her husband’s side, calling him her ‘best friend.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Dunn, Long and Adams for comment.
