Hannah Payne: Vigilante woman, 24, sobs as she is found guilty in 2019 murder of Kenneth Herring

CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA: In a courtroom drama that unfolded in Clayton County, 24-year-old vigilante Hannah Payne broke into tears after she was found guilty of the 2019 murder of 62-year-old Kenneth Herring.

The chilling incident took place after Payne "acted like a cop" and pursued Herring following a minor collision, which escalated into a fatal confrontation on a busy highway near Atlanta on May 7, 2019.

What prompted the tragic shooting?

The guilty verdict, delivered by Judge Jewel C Scott, came after Payne's vigilante-style pursuit of Herring, who had been involved in a car crash, ended in tragedy. Payne, seemingly acting as a self-appointed enforcer, chased Herring, punched him through his car window, and ultimately shot him dead.

Charged with two counts of felony murder, three counts of possession of a weapon during a crime, and one count each of malice murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment, Payne faced a jury of twelve who deliberated for about 90 minutes before reaching a verdict.

During the trial, Payne took the stand to defend herself, claiming she never intended for her handgun to discharge. "I pulled it out and immediately started trying to just continue to push against the door with it — like push it away from him" she stated. "He grabbed my hand with the gun in it. As he's pulling it is when it — the trigger went off," she said adding, "After it went off, my entire body kind of fell backward," Daily Mail reports.

Prosecution challenges Hannah Payne's defense

However, the prosecution presented witness testimony and recordings that contradicted her claims, painting a picture of intentional aggression. The fatal incident unfolded when Payne, acting like a law enforcement officer, decided to pursue Herring after witnessing a collision near Clark Howell Highway on May 7, 2019.

Despite a 911 dispatcher instructing her to stay at the scene, Payne followed Herring, blocked his car, and confronted him with a 9 mm gun. The defense argued that the altercation led to the handgun discharging accidentally, causing Herring's death.

Payne's lawyer Matt Tucker described his client as a "Good Samaritan" trying to prevent a hit-and-run after witnessing Herring strike a semi-truck. However, Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson challenged this narrative, emphasizing that Payne's actions did not align with self-defense.

"You cannot claim self-defense and use deadly force unless you’re not the initial aggressor – she is," stated Lawson.