GBI Investigates Shooting of Towns County Deputy During Traffic Stop

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating an aggravated assault on a Towns County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot during a traffic stop early Friday morning in Young Harris, Georgia.

At approximately 2:00 a.m., the deputy stopped a silver Honda sedan without a license plate on Plott Town Road. The driver, described as a white male about 6 feet tall and weighing 170-180 pounds, exited the vehicle wearing a black beanie, gray hoodie, and black athletic pants.

The man ignored the deputy’s commands, prompting the deputy to deploy a taser, which was unsuccessful. A physical altercation ensued, during which the suspect gained control of the deputy’s firearm, resulting in the deputy being shot. The man fled the scene in the Honda, a 2010 or similar model four-door sedan.

The injured deputy was treated at the scene by first responders and transported to a metro hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Authorities are actively searching for the suspect, who remains unidentified.

This investigation is active and ongoing. The GBI and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man who shot the deputy in this incident. Please call Towns County 911 or the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile application.