Georgia officer ambushed; suspect dead after reportedly shooting self
Warm Springs officer killed in patrol car shooting
A suspect shot and killed Warm Springs Police Officer Chris Fisher as he sat in his patrol car before taking his own life during a traffic stop in South Carolina.
MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. - A Warm Springs police officer was shot and killed in what investigators describe as a sudden attack while he sat inside his patrol car Tuesday night, and the suspect was found wounded in South Carolina less than 12 hours later.
What we know:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the officer as Chris Fisher of the Warm Springs Police Department.
According to the GBI, Fisher was on duty and had just completed an unrelated traffic stop when he parked his patrol car at the Meriwether Country Inn at 5675 Spring Street.
Georgia officer ambushed; suspect dead from gunshot in SC
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Officer Fisher was sitting inside his parked patrol car following an unrelated traffic stop when 23-year-old Jimmy Lee Steverson pulled alongside him and opened fire. Steverson fled the scene, triggering a statewide Blue Alert and a multi-agency search.
At approximately 11:57 p.m., a black 2026 Chevrolet Silverado pulled up beside Fisher's patrol vehicle.
Investigators said the driver, identified as 23-year-old Jimmy Lee Steverson of Warm Springs, fired multiple shots into the officer's patrol car, striking Fisher.
Steverson then drove away, according to the GBI.
Fisher was pronounced dead at the scene.
Courtesy of Warm Springs Police Department/Officer Down Memorial Page
Blue Alert sparks search for suspect
The shooting prompted the GBI to issue a Blue Alert for Steverson early Wednesday, warning that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
The search involved numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations.
A large law enforcement presence remained at the Meriwether Country Inn Wednesday morning as investigators processed the scene.
Warm Springs police officer ambushed, killed
The GBI says the Warm Springs police officer who was killed very late Tuesday night was sitting in his patrol car and ambushed. They also say the suspect was found with a gunshot wound in South Carolina. This is a breaking news update. FOX 5 Atlanta's Eric Perry reporting.
Suspect found wounded in South Carolina
What they're saying:
The search for Steverson took a major turn around 11:39 a.m. Wednesday when deputies in Anderson County, South Carolina, initiated a traffic stop.
The GBI said Steverson was a passenger in the vehicle. When law enforcement officers approached, they discovered him suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Steverson was taken to a local hospital. The GBI did not immediately release information about the severity of his injuries. However, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina said during a news conference that the suspect was pronounced dead.
The sheriff's office also said that two other people were in the vehicle with the suspect.
The GBI is conducting an independent investigation. Once completed, the case will be turned over to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
EARLIER REPORT FROM SCENE
Blue Alert issued in Warm Springs after shooting
A Blue Alert was issued by the GBI for a man named Jimmie Steverson after a fatal shooting early Wednesday morning near the Meriwether Country Inn in Warm Springs. It is believed a police officer was shot, but that has not positively been confirmed by officials at this time. This is breaking news. Kaitlyn Pratt reporting live from the scene.
Statement from Fayette County Sheriff's Office
What they're saying:
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Fisher worked for them from 2018 to 2025. They sent the following statement:
Chris Fisher served at the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office from 2018-2025. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the Warm Springs Police Department during this incredibly difficult time.
While Deputy Fisher is no longer with our agency, he will always be remembered as a dedicated law enforcement officer who served his community with pride. He was also a great friend and brother to our staff here.
We ask that everyone keep Chris’s family and fellow officers in their thoughts and prayers.
Statement from Gov. Kemp
What they're saying:
Gov. Brian Kemp released the following statement on social media after the news broke.
Marty, the girls, and I are deeply saddened this morning by the news that Officer Chris Fisher has been killed. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers law enforcement face on a daily basis in service to their communities, and I ask that all Georgians lift up Fisher’s family and his fellow officers in prayer.