Officers On Leave Following Shooting in Woodstock

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Editor’s note: this story has been updated.

The officers involved with the early Morning Wednesday shooting of a resident have been placed on administrative leave.

That’s according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is now handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that took place before daybreak Wednesday.

Deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a call of a suicide threat at home on Olde Mill Trace in unincorporated Woodstock around 2 a.m. Oct. 28.

Due to the location of the call, -- south of Highway 92 and east of Main Street -- sheriff’s deputies requested backup from officers with the Woodstock Police Department.

Officers who responded to the call were told a man inside the home “was armed and that his wife and two children were also in the home,” said Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.

The wife and children were able to flee the home shortly after officers arrived on the scene.

According to the GBI, Woodstock police officers approached the residence in an attempt to make contact with the man, William Candler, 35, of Woodstock.

As officers approached Candler, ”he exited the residence and went to the front porch with a rifle,”

“Police officers issued verbal commands to drop the weapon,” the GBI said. “However, Candler raised the rifle at the officers, at which time the officers fired at Candler resulting in the shooting incident.”

Candler was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for treatment for his injuries. He is in police custody, and will be charged with two counts of aggravated assault, the GBI said.

No law enforcement officials were injured in the incident, and the two officers are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. 

Once the GBI completes its investigation, the results will be forwarded to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit’s district attorney’s office for review.

Return to Patch for updates.

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