A Mt. Airy man is charged with three counts of aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend’s parents and a neighbor during a domestic dispute south of Clarkesville.
The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, on Canterberry Trail. Authorities say the girlfriend escaped from a camper during an argument with Ethan Blue Brooks and alerted a family member for help. That family member notified the girl’s parents, who went to speak with Brooks at the camper.
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“As soon as they opened the door, Ethan Brooks had a knife of some sort and stabbed Ricky [Smith] three times in the gut and then also stabbed Diana [Smith] and Ashley [Chaffin],” said Kassandra Watson, speaking for the family.
Chaffin’s mother, who lives next door to where the incident occurred, called 911.
“A Habersham County deputy arrived, determined there were three victims with stab wounds, and provided cover so that Clarkesville police and other arriving responders could provide aid and evacuate the injured to ambulances as they got on scene,” said Habersham County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Rob Moore.
Ricky Smith was critically injured. All three victims were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
Commenting on Now Habersham’s Facebook page, Chaffin said Monday they were still at the Gainesville hospital. She asked for prayers for her uncle, who is “on a ventilator in critical condition.”
After the attack, investigators said Brooks barricaded himself in the camper. Law enforcement used less-lethal pepperball launchers to force him out and took him into custody without further incident. He remains in the Habersham County Detention Center.
Jail records show Brooks, who was previously listed as a Lavonia resident, has had prior run-ins with law enforcement, including an arrest last November in Habersham County for fleeing and obstructing officers following a police pursuit.
Sunday’s stabbing case remains under investigation.
