Man Dies After Late-Night Shooting in Claxton; GBI Leading Investigation

Claxton, GA – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into a shooting that resulted in the death of 48-year-old Jonathan O’Neil Gaines of Claxton.

According to investigators, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at approximately 10:55 p.m., officers responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired near Terrell Street in Claxton. When law enforcement arrived, they found Gaines inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Gaines was transported to a local hospital and placed on life support. He later died from his injuries on Friday, February 13.

Authorities said another individual was inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting. That person sought treatment at a nearby hospital and was later released.

Gaines’ body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Pooler for an autopsy. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Claxton Police Department at 912-739-3111 or the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Statesboro at 912-871-1121. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.