Newnan Man Shot and Arrested After Struggle With Police During 911 Call Response

Newnan, GA – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into an officer-involved shooting that happened Saturday morning in Newnan after a confrontation that left both a suspect and an officer with non-life-threatening injuries.

Around 8:30 a.m., Newnan police were sent to the 900 block of Bullsboro Drive after a 911 hang-up call. When officers got there, they found 29-year-old Sonny Francis Conto of Glassboro, New Jersey standing on the steps of a semi-truck, yelling at the driver inside.

Officers told Conto to step down, but he refused. When one officer tried to help him off the truck, Conto fought back, which led to a struggle. During that fight, Conto called for his dog from a nearby van and tried to grab the officer’s gun. The dog got out of the van and moved toward the officer and Conto, adding to the chaos.

A second officer saw what was happening, ordered Conto to stop resisting, and fired when Conto continued fighting over the weapon. Conto was hit in the arm. He tried to run but was quickly caught.

Conto was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Once released, he’ll be booked into the Coweta County Jail on charges of obstruction and attempted removal of a firearm from a public official.

The officer injured in the struggle was treated at a local hospital and has been released.

The GBI is handling the investigation. When it’s finished, the case will go to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Office in Columbus at (706) 565-7888. 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.