A Columbia County sheriff’s deputy was killed and another wounded Saturday evening after a traffic stop escalated into gunfire on Interstate 20, authorities said.
The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. near Exit 194, just outside Augusta, when deputies attempted to stop a camper pulling a vehicle. The suspect, identified as James Blake Montgomery, 38, allegedly opened fire with an assault-style rifle, striking both deputies before fleeing the scene in the camper, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Major Steve Morris.
The deputy killed in the line of duty has not yet been publicly identified. The injured deputy, identified as Gavin White, was hospitalized in critical condition late Saturday, officials said. Law enforcement agencies from across the region, including the Georgia State Patrol and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the area and initiated a manhunt for Montgomery, who was later located in a mobile home community near Belair Road.
Authorities deployed helicopters and drones in the search, and by Saturday night, officials reported that the suspect was “no longer a threat,” though details of his apprehension were not immediately released.
Portions of Interstate 20 were closed for several hours, and residents were urged to avoid the area as the investigation continued.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp expressed condolences on social media, writing, “Marty, the girls, and I are praying for the loved ones and colleagues of the Columbia County sheriff’s deputy that has fallen in the line of duty, as well as his fellow law enforcement officer injured tonight while protecting his fellow Georgians. As they remain in our hearts and prayers, we’re also painfully reminded of why those who wear a badge have more than earned our enduring respect and appreciation”.
The incident marks the second line-of-duty death for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the third for Georgia law enforcement this year. The investigation remains ongoing.
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