Hit-and-Run in DeKalb County Leads to Stabbing of Off-Duty Officer in Rockdale County

On January 18, 2025, at approximately 6:00 PM, a hit-and-run incident occurred on eastbound Interstate 20 near Panola Road in DeKalb County. A Dodge Charger struck a Chevy Silverado before fleeing the scene. The driver of the Silverado, an off-duty officer from the Metro Atlanta area, followed the Charger eastbound into Rockdale County near Salem Road in an attempt to obtain the vehicle’s tag information.

The suspect in the Charger eventually pulled into a parking lot, where a verbal altercation between the two drivers ensued. The argument escalated when the suspect, identified as Justin Perry Hurst, physically attacked the victim, striking him and then stabbing him multiple times. The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital in Atlanta for treatment, and the severity of his injuries is currently being evaluated.

Following the stabbing, Hurst fled the scene. Authorities are actively working to locate him and have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact local law enforcement.

The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be provided as they become available.