Hannah Payne, a 25-year-old woman from Georgia, was found guilty of murder on December 13, 2023, for shooting and killing Kenneth Herring, a 67-year-old man, in a botched citizen’s arrest in 2019. She claimed she was acting as a good Samaritan when she chased and confronted Herring, who had been involved in a minor hit-and-run accident with a tractor-trailer.
However, the jury rejected her self-defense argument and convicted her of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Payne faces life in prison without parole.
Hannah Payne Bio/Wiki
| Name | Hannah Payne |
|---|---|
| Birth date | in 1998 |
| Age | 25 |
| Birthplace | Georgia, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Parents | Rick Payne. (father), Margaret Payne (mother) |
| Siblings | None |
| Occupation | Security guard, nanny |
| Education | Whitewater High School, Georgia State University |
| Criminal charges | Malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony |
| Criminal status | Convicted on December 13, 2023 |
| Victim | Kenneth Herring |
| Date of incident | May 7, 2019 |
| Location of incident | Clayton County, Georgia |
| Motive | Attempted citizen’s arrest |
| Weapon | Glock 43 handgun |
| Sentence | Life in prison without parole (pending) |
| Social Links | Instagram- #hannahpayne |
What Happened on May 7, 2019?
On May 7, 2019, around 6:15 p.m., Herring was driving his Dodge Dakota pickup truck on Riverdale Road in Clayton County, Georgia, when he ran a red light and collided with a semi. A witness, who was a state corrections officer with medic training, saw the crash and approached Herring, who appeared to be disoriented and confused. The witness suspected that Herring was having a medical emergency, possibly a diabetic shock, and advised him to sit back in his truck and wait for help. However, Herring drove off, leaving the scene of the accident.
Hannah Payne, who was driving a Jeep, witnessed the hit-and-run and decided to follow Herring. She called 911 and reported the incident, giving the dispatcher Herring’s license plate number and location. The dispatcher told her not to follow or confront Herring, saying it was safer to stay away.
Payne ignored the dispatcher’s instructions and continued to pursue Herring, saying, “He is drunk. I’m not. I’m sorry, but I’m here to tell you I’m not not going to follow him because he is going to cause an accident.”
Hannah Payne eventually caught up with Herring at the intersection of Riverdale Road and Forest Parkway, where she blocked his truck with her Jeep. She got out of her car, holding a gun, and approached Herring’s window.
According to witnesses, she was punching Herring and demanding that he “get out of the f**king car!” A struggle ensued, and Payne shot Herring in the chest. Herring died at the scene.
Hannah told the dispatcher that Herring had pulled the trigger of her gun while it was in her hand. However, the police found no evidence of Herring’s fingerprints or DNA on the gun. They also found no drugs or alcohol in Herring’s system. Herring’s wife, Christina, said that her husband was diabetic and was driving to the hospital because he felt unwell.
Biography
Hannah Payne was born in 1998 (age: 25 years, as of 2023), in Georgia. Her parent’s name is Rick Payne and Margaret Payne. She graduated from Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, in 2016. She attended Georgia State University, where she studied criminal justice. She worked as a security guard and a nanny. She had a concealed carry permit and owned a Glock 43 handgun.
Payne’s family and friends described her as a sweet, caring, and compassionate person who loved animals and children. They said she was not racist and did not see color. They said she was trying to help in apprehending a hit-and-run driver and acted in self-defense when Herring attacked her.
Hannah Payne’s lawyer, Matt Tucker, argued that she was a good Samaritan who had the right to make a citizen’s arrest under Georgia law. He said that she did not intend to kill Herring, but only wanted to detain him until the police arrived. He said that she feared for her life when Herring grabbed her gun and tried to shoot her.
Height, Weight
- Height: around 5’ 6″ (168 cm)
- Weight: around 130 lbs (59 kg)
- Eye color: blue
- Body measurements: 34-28-36 in (86-71-91 cm)
- Skin color: fair
- Hair color: blonde
- Shoe size: 8 (US) or 6 (UK) or 39 (EU)
Hannah Payne’s Relationship Status
According to sources, there is no clear information about Hannah Payne’s relationship status before her arrest. However, some sources suggest that she was married to a man named Matt Payne (unconfirmed), who was also her lawyer. However, this has not been confirmed by Payne or her family. Therefore, it is possible that Payne was single, married, or in a relationship with someone else at the time of her arrest.
Some of the evidence that supports the claim that Payne was married to Matt Payne are:
- In a video of Payne’s interview with the police, she referred to Matt Payne as her husband and said that he was a lawyer.
- In a photo of Payne’s bond hearing, she was seen wearing a wedding ring on her left hand.
- In a Facebook post, Matt Payne wrote that he was married to Hannah Payne and that they had been together for four years.
Some of the evidence that contradicts the claim that Payne was married to Matt Payne are:
- In a court document, Matt Payne was listed as Payne’s attorney, not her spouse.
- In a news article, Matt Payne was identified as Payne’s lawyer, not her husband.
- In a Facebook comment, Matt Payne denied that he was married to Hannah Payne and said that they were just friends.
What is a Citizen’s Arrest?
A citizen’s arrest is an act of detaining a person who is suspected of committing a crime by a private citizen who is not a law enforcement officer. The laws governing citizen’s arrests vary by state, but generally, a citizen can only arrest if they witness a felony or a breach of the peace, or if they have reasonable grounds to believe that a felony has been committed.
Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law was enacted in 1863 and allowed a private person to arrest someone who committed a crime in their presence or within their immediate knowledge, or someone who was trying to escape after committing a felony. The law was widely criticized for being outdated, vague, and prone to abuse. It was also invoked by the defense of the three men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was jogging in a neighborhood in Brunswick, Georgia, in 2020.
In May 2021, Georgia repealed its citizen’s arrest law and replaced it with a new law that limits the power of private citizens to detain someone. The new law only allows a citizen to arrest if the person is committing theft, shoplifting, or property damage, and the citizen is the owner, employee, or agent of the property.
The new law also allows a citizen to detain someone who is committing a crime in a restaurant, hotel, or other place of public accommodation, and the citizen is the owner, employee, or agent of the establishment. The new law also allows a citizen to detain someone who is escaping from a correctional facility or someone who is wanted for a felony.
What Was the Trial and Verdict?
Hannah Payne’s trial began on December 6, 2023, in Clayton County Superior Court. The prosecution, led by District Attorney Tasha Mosley, argued that she was not a good Samaritan, but a vigilante who took the law into her own hands and killed an innocent man. The prosecution presented evidence from the 911 call, the crime scene, the autopsy, the ballistics, and the witnesses.
The prosecution also played a video of Payne’s interview with the police, in which she admitted that she blocked Herring’s truck, got out of her car with a gun, and shot him.
The defense, led by Matt Tucker, argued that Hannah Payne was acting in self-defense and had the right to make a citizen’s arrest under Georgia law. The defense claimed that she was concerned about public safety and wanted to stop Herring from causing another accident. The defense also claimed that Herring was the aggressor who initiated the confrontation and tried to take Hannah’s gun and shoot her.
The trial lasted for seven days and featured more than 20 witnesses, including Hannah , who took the stand in her own defense. The jury deliberated for about four hours before reaching a verdict. On December 13, 2023, the jury found her guilty of all charges. Hannah Payne broke down in tears as the judge read the verdict. She was taken into custody and awaits sentencing. She faces life in prison without parole.
What Was the Reaction and Impact?
The verdict was met with mixed reactions from the public. Some people praised the jury for delivering justice and holding Hannah Payne accountable for her actions. They said that she was not a good Samaritan, but a murderer who had no right to chase and confront Herring.
They said that Payne’s actions were motivated by racial bias and vigilantism. They also said that her case highlighted the need to reform the citizen’s arrest laws and prevent similar tragedies from happening.
Other people expressed sympathy and support for Hannah and criticized the jury for convicting her. They said that Payne was a caring and compassionate person who was trying to help in apprehending a hit-and-run driver.
They said that Hannah acted in self-defense and had the right to make a citizen’s arrest under Georgia law. They also said that Payne’s case was a miscarriage of justice and a violation of her constitutional rights.
The verdict also had an impact on the legal and political landscape of Georgia. The verdict was seen as a validation of the repeal of the citizen’s arrest law and a deterrent for future vigilantes.
The verdict was also seen as a victory for the civil rights movement and a sign of progress for racial justice and equality. The verdict was also seen as a challenge for the gun rights movement and a potential precedent for limiting the use of firearms in self-defense situations.
The verdict also sparked a debate on the role and responsibility of citizens in preventing and reporting crimes. Some people argue that citizens should be encouraged and empowered to assist law enforcement and protect public safety.
They said that citizens should be able to make citizen’s arrests and use reasonable force to detain suspects. They also said that citizens should be protected from criminal and civil liability when they act in good faith and by the law.
Other people argued that citizens should be discouraged and restrained from interfering with law enforcement and endangering public safety. They said that citizens should not make citizen’s arrests and use deadly force to detain suspects. They also said that citizens should be held accountable for their actions and face criminal and civil consequences when they act recklessly and unlawfully.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrKynspmle6S7zGiuoqOZZLWius2an2aoka67pns%3D