GBI looking for person who shot Towns County deputy early Friday morning

TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating an aggravated assault on a Towns County sheriff’s deputy who was shot during a traffic stop early Friday morning.

The incident occurred just after 2 a.m. on Plott Town Road in Young Harris. A deputy noticed a silver Honda sedan without a license plate and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, described as a white man approximately 6-feet-tall and weighing 170-180 pounds, exited the car and approached the deputy. He was wearing a black beanie, a gray hoodie, and black athletic pants.

When the driver refused to comply with the deputy’s commands, the deputy attempted to use a Taser, but the attempt was unsuccessful, according to the GBI. A physical altercation ensued, during which the man reportedly gained control of the deputy’s firearm and shot him. The man then fled the scene in the silver Honda, believed to be a 2010 model or similar, but did not take the deputy's gun.

Emergency services responded to the scene and transported the injured deputy to a metro-area hospital. Officials report that the deputy’s injuries are not life-threatening.

The GBI and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office are actively investigating and are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information is urged to contact Towns County 911, the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS (8477), or submit information online at gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online. Tips can also be provided via the "See Something, Send Something" mobile app.

This is an ongoing investigation, and further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.