STAFF REPORT :::
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the death of 33-year-old Neil Bond was an apparent suicide.
The GBI investigation was requested by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix after an officer involved shooting that resulted when deputies responded to a 911 call reporting Bond had made a suicide threat.
According to a press release issued by GBI Director of Public Affairs Nelly Miles, preliminary information indicates that at approximately 9 p.m., Spalding County E911 received an emergency call in reference to that suicide threat.
Deputies David Porter and Nicholas Gatlin responded to Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park located at 1301 Cowan Road, and located Bond sitting in the driver’s seat of his truck, which was parked forward into a parking space facing away from Porter and Gatlin.
The two deputies approached Bond’s truck from the rear, and as they were instructing civilians to get out of the area, Porter and Gatlin heard a single gunshot coming from Bond’s truck.
At the time, Porter and Gatlin believed that Bond had shot at them or a civilian.
Porter and Gatlin subsequently returned gunfire towards Bond. Bond was struck once by the officers’ gunfire.
A GBI autopsy of Bond has been conducted and preliminary findings are that Bond died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No officers or civilians were injured during this incident.
The GBI will continue its independent investigation and upon its completion, the case will be provided to Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
