Tifton Man Charged After Shooting Two Police Investigators During Warrant Service

UPDATE: Davy Royal was found unconscious in his cell at the Coffee County Jail  on December 8th. He was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

Original Post:

Tifton, GA – Authorities are investigating a violent incident in Tifton after two police investigators were shot during the execution of a search warrant.

At approximately 10:50 a.m. on December 5, Tifton Police Department officers, assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Operations Unit, attempted to serve a warrant at a home in the 800 block of Lee Avenue. When officers announced their presence, 35-year-old Davy Deonte Royal of Tifton opened fire. The officers returned fire, and Royal barricaded himself inside the home. He surrendered hours later without further incident.

Two Tifton Police Department investigators were shot during the exchange and were transported to hospitals, where they are receiving medical care.

Royal has been arrested and charged with five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder. He is currently being held at the Coffee County Jail.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an independent review of the shooting. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be forwarded to the Tift County District Attorney’s Office for further action.

Officials have not released additional details regarding Royal’s motive or the circumstances leading to the search warrant.