Manhunt in Gordon County ends with suspect being shot by law enforcement
Manhunt ends with law enforcement shooting suspect
The man wanted in connection with a house fire and murder is now in custody after law enforcement officers shot him. FOX 5 was there as multiple law enforcement agencies conducted a massive manhunt Wednesday morning in Gordon County. Sheriff’s deputies with long-guns, a helicopter, and a SWAT team all searched for a 46-year-old man wanted in connection to a murder and house fire.
GORDON COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities in Gordon County have apprehended a suspect linked to a homicide and house fire.
His arrest comes after a tense manhunt that ended in an officer-involved shooting.
Christopher Dixon arrested
What we know:
A manhunt for 46-year-old Christopher Lee Dixon, considered armed and dangerous, concluded in Gordon County on Wednesday.
Law enforcement officers located Dixon hiding under a mobile home on Daisy Street. After being spotted by deputies, Dixon ran away, leading to a perimeter being set up around the area.
When the GSP SWAT team arrived, they confronted Dixon, who was still armed with a rifle. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, deputies used a Taser on Dixon, but he continued to resist.
Officers shot him during the encounter, but he was reportedly still fighting with law enforcement officials as they attempted to take him into custody.
Once he was subdued, he was taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to survive. Authorities have stated that Dixon will face multiple charges, likely including murder.
Gordon County house fire
The backstory:
The manhunt began after deputies responded to a disturbance report on James Street near Resaca on Feb. 4 where they discovered a house on fire.
Gordon County firefighters battled the blaze for several hours.
Once the fire was extinguished, investigators found a body inside the home, which had burned to the ground.
Christopher Lee Dixon (Gordon County Sheriff's Office)
What we don't know:
The identity of the victim has not been released, and details about what led to the shooting and fire remain unclear.
Gordon County sheriff reacts to shooting
What they're saying:
Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston discussed with FOX 5’s Tyler Fingert about the importance of this case.
"Public safety is our number one concern and when these types of incidents happen, that's when we have to rise to the occasion to keep the general public safe," said Sheriff Ralston.
"The Georgia State Patrol SWAT team was requested, and they responded and acted appropriately," Sheriff Ralston said.
"We were lucky enough to be able to find him and a foot pursuit occurred where he pointed a gun at deputies, and then he hid under a mobile home," the sheriff added.
Gordon County manhunt ends with shooting
A manhunt in Gordon County has ended with a shooting. Christopher Dixon was located by law enforcement officers on Wednesday morning. He was shot during the encounter.
Local perspective:
People who live nearby were happy to hear Dixon was taken into custody. One woman said her husband slept with his gun overnight just in case.
"That's how scared he was, he was terrified," said Chasity LeAnn Ingle. "Especially with us having a five-year-old, we got to do something."
What's next:
The GBI will handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, while the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office will continue investigating the original homicide and house fire.
Once Dixon is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the Gordon County Jail on charges of arson and murder.
What you can do:
Authorities encourage anyone with information related to the case to contact the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office or submit tips anonymously through the appropriate channels.
The Source: Initial information for this report came from a Facebook post by the Gordon County Sheriff's Office. FOX 5's Tyler Finger spoke with Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston about the case. This article has been updated since it was originally published to provide new quotes from the sheriff and new details released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.