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US Marshals Task Force officer shot during murder arrest thankful for support

By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published  August 4, 2022 7:59pm EDT
Coweta County
FOX 5 Atlanta
Investigator William Helton, who was shot while on assignment with the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force, received a quilt from Quilts for Cops and a blanket from the Georgia State Fraternal Order of Police on August 4, 2022. article

Investigator William Helton, who was shot while on assignment with the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force, received a quilt from Quilts for Cops and a blanket from the Georgia State Fraternal Order of Police on August 4, 2022. (Coweta County Sheriff's Office)

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. - The U.S. Marshals Service Task Force officer shot last month by a teenage murder suspect during an arrest in Fayette County stopped by the Coweta County Sheriff's Office on Thursday.

William Helton, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's office, received a quilt from Quilts for Cops and a blanket from the Georgia State Fraternal Order of Police during his visit.

Investigators Helton, who has been home for more than a week recovering, needed crutches to navigate his way around.

Helton said he is amazed by the outpouring of support he has received from the community as he recovers. He said he could not be more thankful for the support.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said 19-year-old Antonio Murgado shot Helton on July 24 when law enforcement came to a home at the Shiloh Mobile Home Ranch in Fayette County. Law enforcement shot Murgado multiple times, the GBI said. Officials said his injuries did not appear life-threatening.

William Helton has been with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, is home recuperating and is expected to make a full recovery.

William Helton has been with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, is home recuperating and is expected to make a full recovery. (Photo provided by Coweta County Sheriff's Office)

The Pike County Sheriff's Office said the shooting stemmed from a murder investigation that began in Pike County.

The Pike County Sheriff's Office was investigating the murder of 19-year-old James Knight on July 16 at a home on Patton Road. Police identified 18-year-old Jaiden Chappell as one of the suspects and announced her arrest the following day.

U.S. Marshal shot by teen murder suspect during arrest in Fayette County, officials say

Officials say a U.S. Marshal is recovering with non-life threatening injuries after he was shot by a 19-year-old murder suspect in Fayette County during an arrest on Sunday morning.

An update days later said investigators arrested a 14-year-old linked to the murder and asked for the public to be on the lookout for Murgado. Law enforcement in Clayton and Spalding counties wanted the teenager for armed robbery and methamphetamine possession, respectively.

The GBI said officers entered the home on Sage Brush Trail and Murgado fired a gun and hit a U.S. Marshals Task Force officer one time. Officers fired at Murgado, hitting him multiple times.