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Former Manchester attorney and current District Attorney of the 31 Judicial District in Warren County, Christopher Robert Stanford, was charged with reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm into an occupied habitation that stems from an incident related to the apprehension of suspects in a triple homicide.

The indictments were handed down Monday, Dec. 16  from a DeKalb County grand jury during a special session. Stafford, 43, turned himself in and posted a $10,000 bond. He will appear in DeKalb County General Session Court Jan. 7.

The shooting occurred during the apprehension of suspects sought by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department in connection to a recent triple homicide that occurred there. During the apprehension of Caleb Dias Brookins, Jessica Marie Root and Hannah McKenzi Rose, of Antioch, a Homeland Security Agent in Warren County was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by Rose. Authorities accuse Rose of ramming a deputy’s vehicle, but none of the vehicle’s two passengers were injured.   

According to statements to the local media, Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Stanford fired at and missed Rose’s vehicle during the incident.           

The three homicide victims were identified as William Piechocniski, Dana Ramsden and Otis Hawks II, according to the sheriff.

Brookins and Root have been charged with three counts of criminal homicide and are being held in the Warren County Jail. Rose has been charged with evading arrest and aggravated assault for hitting the Homeland Security agent. She is being detained in Dekalb County.

Stanford operated a law firm in Manchester with his wife Christina Stanford before running for District Attorney in 2022.