Man Who Shot Ga. Deputy Believed To Be in Atlanta Area

COMMERCE, GA — A northeast Georgia sheriff's deputy was shot Wednesday and investigators believe the shooter forced a woman at gunpoint to drive him to the Atlanta area.

At about 4:12 p.m Wednesday, deputies in Banks County — in northeast Georgia along I-85 and I-985 — responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress at the Atlanta Dragway race track.

According to the Banks County Sheriff's Office, while deputies were en route, the robber attempted to kidnap a victim, but ended up fleeing the scene after stealing the victim's car.

Deputies located the vehicle in the area of the Tanger Outlet shopping center, where a traffic stop was attempted. The suspect tried to drive away and, a short time later, got out of the vehicle and fired at a deputy.

The deputy, who the sheriff's office has not identified, was shot while still in a patrol car. As the suspect ran away, he continued to shoot toward the deputy's patrol car.

Authorities say the bullet was blocked by a ballistic vest the deputy was wearing. The deputy was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

On Thursday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a kidnapping happened hours after the deputy's shooting. A Commerce woman arrived at her home to find a man matching the description of the shooter inside.

Her home is about two miles away from where the deputy was shot.

The intruder forced the woman at gunpoint to drive him to the metro Atlanta area before she was released, the GBI said. She sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Investigators were continuing to work Thursday to determine the time and location of the suspect arriving in the Atlanta area.

The shooter is described as a black male in his 40s with short hair, standing about 6' tall and weighing about 170 pounds. He was wearing what was described as dark clothing. He is believed to have at least two handguns.

The GBI and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the identity and capture of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI tip line at 1-800-597 -8477, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 706-367-3784, or the Banks County Sheriff’s Office at 706-677-2248.

Photos courtesy Banks County Sheriff's Office