Florida Man Sentenced to 110 Years for Shooting Gwinnett Sheriff’s Sergeant During 2022 Chase
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A Florida man has been sentenced to 110 years in prison after a Gwinnett County jury convicted him of shooting a sheriff’s sergeant during a violent vehicle pursuit in 2022.
James Edward Perkins, 38, was found guilty of multiple felony charges stemming from the June 10, 2022, incident that seriously injured Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Neil Butler.
Perkins was convicted of five counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Theft by Receiving a Stolen Vehicle, Theft by Receiving a Stolen Firearm, Interference with Government Property, Criminal Damage to Government Property, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Criminal Use of an Article with an Altered Identification Mark, and Terroristic Threats.
A Gwinnett County judge sentenced Perkins to 110 years, with 60 years to be served in prison.
According to prosecutors, the incident began after law enforcement received information about a stolen vehicle parked at a shopping center in Duluth.
As Gwinnett County police officers moved in and observed Perkins approaching the vehicle, they positioned their patrol cars to block it from leaving. Authorities said an officer deployed a Taser after Perkins ignored commands to surrender.
Despite the attempt to stop him, Perkins got into the stolen vehicle, rammed multiple patrol cars and other parked vehicles, and fled.
Investigators said Perkins led officers on a nearly 30-minute pursuit through Gwinnett County, reaching speeds exceeding 80 mph. The Gwinnett County Police Department Aviation Unit tracked the chase from the air and relayed the suspect’s location to officers on the ground.
The pursuit ended when Perkins crashed through a fence near the leasing office of a Lawrenceville apartment complex.
After the crash, prosecutors said Perkins claimed he had a bomb as officers surrounded the vehicle.
Sgt. Neil Butler responded to assist and approached the wrecked vehicle with his K-9 partner, Cino. As Perkins attempted to reverse away from the fence, he opened fire on Butler and several other officers.
Butler was struck in the shoulder. During the trial, he testified that the bullet exited near the base of his neck, missing his spine by only centimeters.
Jurors viewed body camera footage, dash camera video, and aerial video captured by the Aviation Unit documenting the pursuit and shooting.
After less than two hours of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges.
“We are grateful that Sgt. Butler survived this incident and is back in good health,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “Every day, the men and women of our law enforcement agencies put their lives on the line to keep Gwinnett County safe. This verdict sends a message that when you decide to come against the folks that are charged with safety in our community, we will take it very seriously, and we will prevail.”
Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor also praised the outcome.
“Like Sgt. Butler, and the entire law enforcement community, we run toward incidents that most people run from,” Taylor said. “When our deputies conduct their job in the manner that they do, it is important that folks like me, Chief Deputy Cleo Atwater, District Attorney Austin-Gatson, and the staff in her office make certain that we do everything humanly possible to ensure that justice is served.”
Managing Assistant District Attorney Lauren McAuley and Assistant District Attorney Anyssa Williams prosecuted the case with assistance from Investigators Jeff Lamphier and Tiffany Mosly and Victim Witness Advocate Sara Gardner.
