STAFF REPORT :::
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been requested to investigate an officer involved shooting involving a deputy of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
The incident occurred Sunday evening after an attempted tractor trailer break in was reported.
The CCSO received the report at approximately 9:21 p.m. and responded to the BP truck stop located at 1389 Highway 29 South, Newnan.
The caller reported that the individuals responsible for the attempted break in had driven away in a U-Haul truck.
A deputy soon located a U-Haul truck nearby at the Pilot truck stop located at 1645 Highway 29 South.
Two men were observed standing at the rear of an opened tractor trailer.
The deputy stopped and attempted to make contact with the two men who subsequently drove away at a high rate of speed, officials say.
Authorities say the U-Haul exited the parking lot, entered the highway and hit head on a Mazda CX-7, causing non-life threatening injuries to two occupants who were transported to a local hospital.
The driver of the U-Haul, later identified as 45-year-old Jackie Harris, reportedly travelled south on Highway 29 at a high rate of speed, causing other vehicles to run off the road and swerved towards patrol vehicles in an attempt to run officers off the road.
The CCSO reported that after reaching exit 35 at I-85, Harris travelled northbound and continued to swerve towards patrol vehicles. They stated that deputies deployed multiple stop sticks in attempts to stop the U-Haul.
Upon reaching exit 47, officials say a deputy fired multiple gunshots from his patrol vehicle into the U-Haul, striking Harris multiple times. The U-Haul then struck the interstate wall and stopped.
Harris received medical treatment at the scene and was transported to Atlanta Medical Center where he remains.
The U-Haul passenger, 42-year-old Mario Keen, was transported to Piedmont Newnan Hospital where he was treated and released to the Coweta County Jail.
No officers were injured in this incident.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation and once completed, the case file will be turned over to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
This is the 79th officer involved shooting the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2020.
Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
Your support will enable The GRIP to continue to provide relevant news in your community and beyond. It’s quick and painless. Just click this link: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16902623
All support will be greatly appreciated, whether a small one-time donation or recurring monthly gift.
Thank you!
