FBI Agent Dragged By Truck Shoots Alleged Gang Member

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — An FBI agent was injured Friday morning when he was dragged by a vehicle while trying to arrest a suspected gang member he subsequently shot during the apprehension, a spokesperson with the agency said.

The events unfolded around 6 a.m. Jan. 5 when FBI agents and Sandy Springs police went to the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria at 6345 Powers Ferry Road to apprehend the man in question. FBI spokesperson Kevin Rowson said the suspect was confronted in the lobby of the hotel, but fled on foot to the parking lot. The suspect got into a white pickup truck and drove away from the hotel.

"Our agent tried to stop him, got hung up on the car and got dragged almost a quarter of a mile," Rowson told Patch.

While he was being dragged by the vehicle, the agent, who Rowson said was fearing for his safety and believed his life was in danger, shot the suspect. The suspect was transported to an area hospital and as of Friday afternoon, Rowson said he is expected to survive the shooting.

Rowson said the agent's injuries were non-life threatening, and it appears he suffered a couple of broken bones. The suspect's name has not been released at this time, and Rowson added he's unaware if he is from the Sandy Springs or metro Atlanta area.

Rowson said FBI agents were carrying out an arrest warrant on the suspect for his alleged gang-related activities related to an investigation dating back to October. He was the lone suspect who was not in custody related to the agency's case that resulted in the indictment of 30 defendants, the spokesperson said.

Starting as early as 2013, the defendants named in federal prosecutor's RICO conspiracy charge committed murder, attempted murder, conspired to commit murder, robbery, extortion, firearm crimes, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and other crimes in furtherance of the Nine Trey Gangsters," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said.

Specifically, the federal indictment alleges the gang members killed one person, tried to commit two other murders and conspired to commit multiple additional murders. They are also accused of trafficking methamphetamine, illegal prescription drugs and marijuana.

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