Suspect Shot After Throwing Knives at Officers in Jasper Incident

Jasper, GA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is examining an officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon in Pickens County and left a suspect injured.

According to officials, Chase Benham, 33, of Jasper, was shot during the incident. No law enforcement officers were injured.

Preliminary information indicates that on March 8, 2026, at approximately 1:21 p.m., officers with the Jasper Police Department responded to a report of suspicious activity at the Waffle House located at the intersection of Highway 515 and Highway 53. Authorities said a man, later identified as Benham, had damaged a vehicle and attempted to set it on fire.

Deputies with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist. Investigators said Benham left the scene and was believed to be armed with at least one knife.

Officers later located Benham on Darnell Road. When officers confronted him, authorities say he was armed with multiple knives and threw the knives at officers during the encounter.

Jasper police officers then fired their weapons, striking Benham once.

Benham was transported to a nearby trauma hospital for treatment.

The GBI has launched an independent investigation into the shooting. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be turned over to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.