Georgia Police Shooting: Deadly Fight Was Over Traffic Tickets

LOCUST GROVE, GA — The man authorities say shot three law enforcement officers, killing one of them, south of Atlanta on Friday was a former U.S. Marine who called himself "Truly Blessed" online while warning that his posts "may offend."

He died in his home, along with the officer whose wife is expecting a baby any day, over unpaid traffic tickets.

Police have identified the shooter, who was killed during the Friday morning altercation in Locust Grove, as 39-year-old Tierre Guthrie. Deputies from the Henry County Sheriff's Office and a Locust Grove Police officer were serving an arrest warrant on Guthrie at about 10:53 a.m. when investigators say he opened fire on them.

The warrant was for failing to appear in court on traffic violations.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, deputies Sidwell "Sid" Callaway and Mike Corley were serving the warrant at 1260 Saint Francis Ct. when Guthrie "became combative and escalated the situation."

Locust Grove Police Officer Chase Maddox was called in for backup. A fight broke out and Guthrie and the officers fired their weapons. Everyone involved was shot. Guthrie died on the scene and Maddox was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, where he later died.

An autopsy conducted Saturday showed that Maddox was shot three times, with the fatal shot being to the head, according to the GBI. Guthrie's autopsy showed he was shot four times, with two of those shots being to the chest.

Corley, the GBI says, was shot in his protective vest. He was treated and released. Callaway was shot in the lower abdomen but, by Saturday, was listed in stable condition

Neighbors told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Guthrie, 39, was a vegetarian, a Seventh Day Adventist and father to young sons who were in the home at the time of the shooting.

Posts on what appears to be his Facebook page included a memorial photo of Yosef Ben-Jochannan, a prominent Black Nationalist writer, and photos containing symbols associated with Black Nationalism, alongside traditional family photos, including some that appear to show him playing with his sons.

He shared a post from "hacktivist" collective Anonymous and others with quotes from Malcolm X.

"Be A Good Person But Don't Try To Prove It," read one inspirational-style image he posted. Another image on the account — on which he listed "TrulyBlessed" as a nickname — included a warning that he aimed "to share things that you may not see any where (sic) else" and that "as a result, some of my posts may offend you."

Maddox, 26, was a five-year veteran of the city's police department whose wife is expecting their second child any day. A fundraiser to help support his family on donation site GoFundMe had raised $42,272 on Saturday afternoon.

"He was always the life of the party and such a great guy to be around," Courtney Lauren, a family friend who started the fundraiser, wrote on its page. "He was a friend to everyone he met and didn’t meet anyone that he couldn’t make laugh."

A candlelight vigil in memory of Maddox is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the public safety building in Locust Grove. It is located at 3640 Highway 42 in Locust Grove. A local business, Cardinal Creations Vinyl Supply, has made stickers honoring Maddox that they are selling for $2, with all proceeds going to his family.

Photos courtesy Georgia Bureau of Investigation