LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — The man accused of opening fire during a family gathering in Lee County was re-arrested following a brief court appearance on Thursday, July 9.

Jeffrey Tyler Kinzer is charged with one count of aggravated assault after investigators said he put on body armor and fired an AR-15-style rifle at a home on Autumn Leaf Drive on June 7. He was previously released from the Lee County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

In Thursday’s court appearance, the defense attorney requested a bond modification, allowing Kinzer to return to his home on Autumn Leaf Drive.

“He can’t harass or do anything to their property, do anything to their mailbox, [or] be on any of their areas,” Kinzer’s attorney said. “[Kinzer] will just stay in the public road, go into his house, do what he has to do whenever he has to leave, but not stop.”

The state pushed back on the defense’s request and filed a motion for Kinzer to remain in jail until an official bond hearing occurred.

“Your Honor, the incident that started was from him driving on the public roadway and beginning a verbal altercation with people, later firing his firearm out,” the state said.

The Lee County magistrate judge ruled in favor of the state and adjusted Kinzer’s original bond condition. Kinzer now must remain at least half a mile away from the victim’s home on Autumn Leaf Drive, the same street he resides.

“I’m not in favor of him being in that neighborhood at all,” Judge Jim Thurman said. “I just believe that to allow that is to put him in a perilous situation as well as others.”

Lee County District Attorney Lewis Lamb also spoke during the hearing and proposed adding 29 additional counts of aggravated assault and 30 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

DA Lamb said these proposed charges rely on the judges’ signature of the new warrants brought to his desk today.

Judge Thurman also discussed a potential $1 million bond, but that amount has not been set yet, according to court officials.

DA Lamb said the 59 counts and new bond amount will be arranged in the official bond hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.

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Family members who were present at the June 7 shooting also attended Thursday’s hearing. Keonna Leverette confirmed that she lives in the home where the shooting occurred.

“I’m in the process of trying to relocate because I just do not feel safe that [Kinzer] even may get another bond,” Leverette said. “I just don’t feel safe with him being in that neighborhood at all.”

Other family members said the trauma of that night looms, but they are grateful for the community’s support.

“It was a very traumatizing night for us all. Like me, I’m going through therapy sessions...But I’m making it,” Darius Knight said. “Just be careful out there. Always have a situational awareness of your surroundings and just protect yourself at all times. Because it’s crazy... It’s a crazy world out here.”

According to witnesses, the shooting on June 7 followed a racially charged confrontation. These family members said Kinzer allegedly rode past the home yelling racial slurs at the group before returning shortly after and opening fire.

Since the shooting, the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany confirmed Kinzer is employed as a lead firefighter and has been placed on administrative leave.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in the case.

Kinzer will remain in the Lee County jail until his next scheduled hearing, Tuesday, July 14.

WALB will provide updates as more information becomes available. Stay with us.

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