Suspect denied bond, had been shot himself in May incident

More information is coming out this afternoon about the death of a young woman, injuries her mother sustained and the man responsible for the damage caused in the community early Tuesday morning.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released information this afternoon about the death of 26-year-old Summer Bryant, who was shot and killed early Tuesday morning by Randy McClarity. He is also suspected of shooting Julie Thigpen, 50, who was found at the scene as well. She was treated and released from the hospital after she suffered a gunshot wound to the face.

McClairty, who was arrested not long after the incident was called into 911 early Tuesday, remains in the Polk County Jail on murder, malice murder and aggravated assault charges. His bond has been officially denied.

Cedartown Police released preliminary details about the shooting incident on Tuesday afternoon, noting that after the incident that McClarity fled and was found in the Collard Valley Road area by Polk County Police.

A third individual, a male, was present during the shooting but escaped unharmed. Police did not provide any additional details about this third male, and noted the GBI will be handling the investigation on Tuesday night from this point.

Per the GBI’s release, McClarity was living with the pair. It is unknown what relationship the male who escaped had with the pair.

The East Gibson Street murder was just the latest in a long list of brush-ins with the law for McClarity.

His local brushes with law enforcement in records provided by the Polk County Jail date back to 2017, and include DUI, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, driving on a suspended license, a 2019 arrest for battery and cruelty to children, and a 2021 arrest for battery.

He was also involved in April when – based on information from the jail – he got involved in a traffic incident with Cedartown Police and was charged with failure to yield for authorized emergency vehicle, failure to yield after stopping at a stop sign, reckless driving and tag lights required.

He himself was shot in an May incident by Randy McClarity Jr., per sources who noted previous reporting about the shooting incident on Polk Today.

That shooting happened around 1:30 p.m. on Thompson Street in Cedartown on May 6. Police were seeking McClarity Jr. at the time as a suspect.

Here’s the press release provided by the GBI:

Cedartown, GA (August 17, 2022) – The Cedartown Police Department and the GBI arrested Randy McClarity, Sr., age 57, of Cedartown, and charged him with murder, malice murder, and three counts of aggravated assault on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

The GBI was requested by the Cedartown Police Department to assist with a homicide and shooting investigation. Preliminary information indicates that on August 16, 2022, at 3:04 a.m., Cedartown Police Department officers responded to a 911 call about a shooting on East Gibson Street, Cedartown, GA. Officers found a woman, later identified as Summer Bryant, age 26, deceased from gunshots wounds. Officers also located Bryant’s mother, Julie Thigpen, age 50, with a gunshot wound to the face. Thigpen was treated and released from a local hospital. Bryant and Thigpen were living in the home with McClarity.

Check back for more details as this story continues to develop.