Carroll County deputy shot: Out of surgery, recovering in ICU

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. - A Carroll County Sheriff's deputy is out of surgery and recovering in the intensive care unit at Grady Memorial Hospital after being shot while executing a search warrant at a home off Don Rich Drive in Carrollton.

"During that time, it was a very fluid situation, and our deputy was shot serving that search warrant," said Ashley Hulsey, spokesperson for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. 

Authorities with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office have confirmed with FOX 5 that a deputy was shot in the face while working with the GBI to execute a search warrant shortly before 8:30 a.m.

"A children sexual exploitation search warrant that they were out there executing at the time," Hulsey said. 

Medics transported the deputy to a local hospital, but he was eventually flown to Grady. 

The sheriff's office identified the deputy as Investigator Taylor Bristow shortly before 2 p.m. Officials said that the deputy who had been shot had been with the agency for around 6 years.  

Officials say the suspected gunman in the shooting is dead. The GBI also told FOX 5 Atlanta that no officers fired their weapons during the encounter. 

"The suspect shot him and the suspect is deceased," said Hulsey. 

The identity and cause of death has not been released at this time for the suspected shooter. 

"Please pray for the deputy, his family, and our department," the Carroll County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook.

The GBI has been called to assist the sheriff's office with the investigation. 

Who is Deputy Taylor Bristow?

Deputy Taylor Bristow put on his uniform Tuesday morning and went to work like he has done for the past six years.  

He was assisting in the execution of a warrant when the unthinkable happened. He was shot.  

"It was a bullet that struck him in the face," said Hulsey.  

"Taylor is an outstanding officer, he's very dedicated," said Carroll County Sheriff Terry Langley. 

The sheriff, the command staff and his family rushed to the hospital to be by his side.  

"He went through surgery well and he's got a long recovery," said Sheriff Langley. 

Sheriff Langley says Deputy Bristow's family seems to be holding up the best they can. They're still in shock, kind of numb, and praying for the best.  

"We just continue to need the prayers from everybody to see him through this and we'll take this one day at a time," said Sheriff Langley. 

The shooting has hit the community hard with many wanting to do something, anything, to help.  

"Just pray. Just pray. That's all we can ask for. Just pray for our deputy, pray for our department. Pray for his family and pray the nonsense ends. Our deputies put on a gun and badge and a vest every day and they never know if they're going to make it home and that's something that really sticks with all of us when things like this happen," said Hulsey. 

Deputy killed Saturday night responding to call

A Paulding County deputy was killed Saturday night while responding to a domestic violence call in Hiram. According to officials, the shooter opened fire as soon as law enforcement officers arrived. Deputy Brandon Cunningham was struck immediately. Funeral services are planned for Friday. 

RELATED: How many law enforcement officers are killed in the line of duty each year?

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