Reward In Deputy's House Shooting Grows to $20,000

DALLAS, GA — The reward for information in the shooting of a Douglas County sheriff's deputy's home has doubled in size in less than a day, growing to more than $20,000 on Wednesday.

The shooting happened at about 8:50 p.m. Monday on Sweetwater Bridge Circle in Paulding County.

The deputy and his family weren't in the home, but he was in the area and heard the shots, according to a news release.

One shot broke a window and several other bullet holes were found in the house.

"This is something I will not tolerate, the sheriff of Paulding County will not tolerate and law enforcement will not tolerate," said Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "I've been to law enforcement funerals, too many over the years, and I've buried one of my own (deputies). That's the most devastating thing I've ever done."

On Tuesday, Miller had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.

By Wednesday, that amount had more than doubled.

Douglasville Police Chief Gary Sparks added $5,000 to the reward, Larry Watson of the Watson Foundation added another $2,500 and Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren also intends to contribute, Miller said in a Facebook post.

Combined with smaller donations that have come in, that means the reward now stands at more than $20,000.

Miller said the deputy's marked patrol car was sitting in the yard of his home.

"Whoever shot at that deputy's house probably knew that he was a deputy sheriff," Miller said.

The Paulding County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency in the investigation, with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office assisting.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact either of those two agencies.

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