CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Woodstock man has been sentenced to 35 years in connection with a violent domestic incident that escalated into an armed standoff and required a SWAT intervention in May 2024.
William Scott Kirk II, 35, entered a negotiated guilty plea on April 25 to multiple felony charges, including family violence aggravated assault, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway.
Under the plea agreement, Kirk will serve 10 years in prison followed by 25 years of probation. In addition, he must have no contact with the victim, complete a Family Violence Intervention Program, and undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations with any recommended treatment.
The incident occurred on May 20, 2024, at the Alta Ridgewalk Apartments in Woodstock. Prosecutors stated that a verbal dispute between Kirk and his girlfriend turned violent, prompting the woman to leave and seek help from friends. When she returned with them to retrieve personal belongings and her dog, Kirk initially let her in—then locked the door, displayed a handgun, and refused to let her leave.
Her friends, witnessing the situation unfold and hearing her screams, called 911. A large-scale law enforcement response followed, involving the Woodstock Police Department, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, and Holly Springs Police Department.
Kirk refused to engage with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Hostage Negotiation Team. After hours of failed communication attempts, SWAT officers entered the apartment, safely rescued the woman, and arrested Kirk. During the search of the residence, authorities discovered five firearms—despite Kirk’s status as a convicted felon prohibited from owning weapons.
District Attorney Treadaway commended the rapid and coordinated efforts of local law enforcement, saying, “The explosive rage of this defendant posed a substantial risk to the safety of the victim and surrounding residents of the apartment complex. We are grateful for the swift and coordinated response of our law enforcement agencies that ensured the victim’s safe rescue and protected our community as a whole.”
The case was jointly investigated by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and Woodstock Police Department, with support from Holly Springs Police.
