Bond granted for Veitch

Thu, 07/10/2008 - 4:17pm
By: Ben Nelms

The Coweta business owner accused of killing a Norcross construction worker Gaston Gonzales outside a work site June 28 on Trammell Road was granted bond June 7. A bond of $100,000 was set for Jason Veitch who is accused of murdering the Senoia Drywall sub-contractor. Veitch maintains the death was not intentional, saying that the shotgun he used to jab Gonzales went off.

The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. June 28 at a 55 Trammell Road home construction site near Grantville, where Gonzales was shot at point blank range below the neck with a 12-gauge shotgun by Veitch, owner of J. Veitch Construction, according to Coweta Sheriff’s Capt. Tony Grant in earlier statements. Veitch told officers he did not recognize Gonzales as someone doing work on his property, Grant said.

Gonzales and two co-workers subcontracting for Senoia Drywall had been working at the residence next door earlier in the day, said Grant. Senoia Drywall was doing work for Veitch at both locations, said Grant. The men finished their work and decided to get something to eat and return to the area to spend the night in their van rather than driving back to Gwinnett County.

Veitch had positioned himself in a nearby wooded area, armed with the shotgun and a .22-caliber handgun, said Grant. Veitch had previously told officers some of his work sites had been the subject of copper thefts. Grant said Veitch called 911 from the woods, informing dispatchers that he was being robbed. He then called his father-in-law, who arrived minutes later at the residence. Veitch left the wooded area and approached the parked van, firing a warning shot in the air then ordering the men out of the van, Grant said. It was at that time that Veitch’s father-in-law arrived at the site, he said.

Veitch told the men to lay on the ground with their hands behind them, said Grant. While on the ground two of the men placed their hands behind them but Gonzales did not, Grant said, presumably because he did not understand the orders in English. Grant said one of the victims told officers he attempted to explain the order in Spanish but could not be heard because Veitch was yelling loudly.

Grant said Veitch was trying to get Gonzales to comply by jabbing him in the upper portion of his back just below his neck. Veitch told officers he jabbed Gonzales twice when the gun fired, fatally striking Gonzales, said Grant.

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Submitted by FayetteFlyer on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 11:02am.

As I look at the news postings of violent crimes on this website, there's pics of the suspects for everyone to see. Yet, in this story, Mr. Veitch's photo is absent. Give me an explaination, 'cause I don't have one.

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 1:33pm.

If so, he would probably have his picture here. Mug shots are commonly online now.

darrylwd's picture
Submitted by darrylwd on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 11:15am.

A friend of mind is awaiting trial in Fayette County for an unspeakable crime. If he is convicted beyond the shadow of a doubt, then he should get the punishment he deserves.

His picture was pasted all over this site and in hard copy, when he was arrested. He was also lambasted by 99% of the bloggers on this site.

Guess what, he is white.

The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.


Submitted by FayetteFlyer on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:06pm.

Why is it that 4 stories of violent crimes are posted and of the 4 stories, 3 committed allegedly by Black men and one by an alleged White "business-owner" (I assume he's White 'cause I don't know many Black folks with the name Veitch!) only the 3 Black mens pics appear. Maybe it was a slow news day when your friend's pic was "plasted" for all to see. My question remains, if this paper will post pics of violent, captured individuals, why aren't all of them posted? And by the way darrylwd...nice car!

Submitted by Eliza on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:56pm.

First of all - I think when pictures are available of criminals or suspects of any race, the papers should post them. It is IMPERATIVE that when the suspects have not been captured, and photos or descriptions are available, they be shown or described as completely as possible - regardless of race/color.

I am not positive which crimes you are referring to, but I believe the three allegedly committed by Black men happened in FAYETTE County; the crime Veitch is accused of happened in COWETA, and the Newnan paper published his picture. He was taken into custody at the crime scene, so his picture was published even though he had been arrested. I imagine that if the shooting had occurred in Fayette, his picture would have been published here.

Submitted by FayetteFlyer on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 1:20pm.

This website/paper is posting or not posting pics. Where the crime occurred is not relevant. The news links on THIS site show Peachtree City/Coweta. Whether or not these are former mug shots provided by the police or perps themselves is also not relevant. I wasn't referring to the crime in particular either, only the fact that all the postings of said crimes showed only the pics of Black males. That is the only observation I was making.

darrylwd's picture
Submitted by darrylwd on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:54pm.

Looks like the pics from the blacks that we see posted here are all mug shots from previous arrest. That makes it easier for the media to acquire the image from the police, without having to get one from the Perp him/herself.

Sounds logical to me.

The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.


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