Deputy Fatally Shoots Armed Suspect After Pursuit and Confrontation in Coweta County

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. – A man is dead following an officer-involved shooting Thursday night after a brief pursuit and armed confrontation with a Coweta County Sheriff’s Office deputy, authorities said.

The incident began around 8:15 p.m. on January 8, when a sheriff’s deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on an off-road vehicle in the area of Lowery Road. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver refused to stop, leading deputies on a short pursuit.

The vehicle eventually pulled into a driveway on Greenfield Lane, where the driver ran inside a residence. Deputies attempted to get the suspect to come out, but he did not comply. After identifying the suspect, deputies left the area with plans to seek arrest warrants.

About 45 minutes later, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Coweta County 911 received a call from a concerned citizen reporting that the suspect had come back outside armed with a gun and was driving toward Lowery Road.

A deputy stationed in a nearby neighborhood encountered the suspect. Authorities say the deputy ordered the individual to drop the weapon. Shots were then fired, and the suspect was struck.

Deputies immediately provided life-saving measures at the scene. The suspect was transported to Piedmont Newnan Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His identity has not yet been released.

At the request of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case and is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. GBI agents remained on scene late Thursday night as the investigation continued.

No deputies were reported injured. Additional details are expected to be released once the investigation progresses.