STAFF REPORT :::
A man described as “suicidal” was shot and killed Wednesday night by a Spalding County deputy.
According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies responded to a call of a suicidal man sitting in a vehicle at Wyomia Tyus Park at approximately 8:52 p.m. Upon arrival, the vehicle was located and deputies found it occupied by a white male fitting the description provided.
While crossing the parking lot on foot, the deputies began clearing people from the area.
Authorities say when the deputies got to the vehicle’s side window to speak to the man, he raised his handgun and fired a shot.
Deputies then retreated and returned fire, striking the suspect.
Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster pronounced the man dead at the scene.
“We immediately notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, they responded to the scene, and are conducting the investigation into this incident. I also contacted District Attorney Ben Coker who personally responded to the scene along with his investigators. There were multiple witnesses to the incident who have been interviewed, and it was also captured on body cam. The names of the Deputies involved, and the suspect will be released by the GBI as the investigation continues,” Dix said. “We always want to make the attempt to de-escalate these situations, however in incidents such as what these Deputies faced last night, the suspect did not allow that to happen. Based on his sudden actions and what the Deputies saw, it forced them to make a split-second decision, contain the incident, and protect the people in the park and themselves.”
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
