STAFF REPORT :::
Three law enforcement officers and one suspect were shot in an officer involved shooting early today in Carroll County.
The wounded suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident that involved personnel of the Georgia State Patrol.
Officials say 28-year-old Pier Alexander Shelton and 22-year-old Aaron Jajuan Shelton, both of Birmingham, Ala., fled from authorities after a GSP trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:34 a.m. when an unidentified trooper attempted to stop a 2015 Nissan Sentra in Bremen near the mile 10 marker on Interstate 20. The trooper alleged the driver was speeding.
The GBI said preliminary information indicates that as the trooper approached the rear of the vehicle, the driver sped off. A pursuit ensued with the trooper ultimately initiating a precision immobilizing technique (PIT) to stop the fleeing Sentra.
The Sentra’s driver was able to regain control of the vehicle and the pursuit continued.
Officials say that when the trooper attempted to initiate a second PIT maneuver, the passenger leaned out the front passenger window and began firing at the trooper with a rifle.
The trooper’s vehicle was struck by gunfire and disabled.
The Nissan Sentra allegedly continued to flee and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County Police Department and the Villa Rica Police Department joined the pursuit at Highway 166 and Bankhead Highway in Carrollton.
During the pursuit, the Sentra’s passenger allegedly continued firing on officers, ultimately striking Carrollton Police Department Sgt. Rob Holloway.
Holloway continued to pursue the fleeing suspects until he wrecked his patrol vehicle at the intersection of Highways 61 and 166.
The high-speed pursuit continued until the Nissan Sentra crashed near Ithaca Elementary School in Villa Rica, and the suspects reportedly fled on foot.
Authorities say that at 5 a.m. and again at 5:30 a.m., the suspects fired upon officers.
Villa Rica Police Officer Chase Gordy sustained two gunshot wounds as he returned fire.
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Repetto also sustained a gunshot wound as he returned fire.
One suspect, Pier Alexander Shelton was shot by officers and died at the scene.
Aaron Jajuan Shelton was taken into custody and is being held in the Carroll County Jail.
Holloway and Gordy were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for treatment of their wounds, and Repetto was transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
The Carroll County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol requested the GBI conduct an independent investigation of the incident. Once the investigation has been completed, findings will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
The GBI is also investigating the alleged aggravated assault on the law enforcement officers.
This is the 20th officer involved shooting the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2021.
Aaron Jajuan Shelton has been charged with five counts of aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated battery.
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!
