Suspect wounded when traffic stop leads to deputy-involved shooting, Paulding County Sheriff's Office says

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said a traffic stop led to a shootout involving deputies and a car chase on Sunday.

The suspect, identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) as 36-year-old Billy Wanye Denton of Rockmart, was shot during the incident and later died at the hospital.

Paulding deputies said the incident began with a traffic stop at around 9:54 a.m. at the intersection of Macland Road and Bobo Road.

That’s when the deputies say he pulled out a gun and racked a round.

The Georgia State Patrol (GSP), which was called in to investigate, said Denton told deputies that he was not going back to jail.

"They saw the gun and then the gunfight erupted," said Paulding Sheriff’s Sgt. Ashley Henson. "Then, he backed up and hit [the deputies’] car, and then they took off after him.

Deputies gave chase for about 4.5 miles until the pickup Denton was driving spun out and wrecked in Dallas on West Memorial Drive next to a furniture store, investigators said.

Then, more gunshots.

"More gunfire erupted between the two vehicles and a short time thereafter they were able to get the suspect out of the vehicle, get him secured and begin rendering aid until fire and EMS could arrive," Sgt. Henson said.

Those medics took Denton to a hospital close by, where he died.

A neighbor who did not want to identify himself said he heard about 15 gunshots.

The GBI said they recovered the pistol from his pickup truck.

Viewer photo provided by Andrew Talley (Viewer photo provided by Andrew Talley)

None of the deputies involved were hurt.

"I have spoken with all three of them, and they seem to be holding their own," Sgt. Henson said. "They’re doing OK, they’re just going to need some time to process what took place."

Sgt. Henson said none of those deputies were wearing body cameras, but dash cam footage will be part of the investigation.

Denton’s body is in possession of the GBI, which will perform an autopsy.

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