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Original: http://www.thehartwellsun.com/articles/2009/09/02/news/news01.txt The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating a Tuesday afternoon shooting in Toccoa involving a law enforcement officer and the pastor of an area church. Jonathan Ayers of Hart County, age 28, died Tuesday night at Stephens County Hospital after being treated for a gunshot wound received during an incident at a convenience store located at the corner of Broad and Currahee streets. Ayers was pastor of Shoal Creek Baptist Church located in a portion of Hart County near Lavonia. The church had about 72 in attendance last Sunday. During a press conference held yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that NCIS (Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression team) was in the process of conducting a covert drug operation when Ayers was seen meeting with a target of that investigation. The investigation was targeting drug sales and prostitution, Shirley said. At one point the suspect of the investigation was seen getting out of Ayers' car prior to Ayers arriving at the convenience store. Officers got out and identified themselves (to Ayers) and he (Ayers) did not open the door, Shirley said. "They identified themselves again and Mr. Ayers backed into one of the agents, then drove forward in the direction of the other agent, then the agent fired two shots into the auto," Shirley said. Ayers then drove off from the convenience store, Shirley said, and lost control of his vehicle. "At that time, when I arrived on the scene, it is my policy and the policy of the Toccoa Police Department to contact the GBI for an independent review," he added, saying that he, and the GBI, will get to the bottom of the incident. "We collect facts. We dont make opinions," said John Bankhead, GBI director of public affairs, during the press conference. "In this case, there are civilian witnesses who are being interviewed as well as the officers involved." Bankhead said all interviews and accounts of the incident, along with information obtained from processing the scene and Ayers' car, would be compared and compiled into a report, which would then be given to the district attorney's office for review. "This is standard in every police shooting," he said. "We have no connection to this area, and we want to make sure it (the investigation) is thorough, and it will take as long as it takes to get the DA the information he needs." Bankhead did emphasize that Ayers was not involved in any drug transaction. "It was first suspected, when he was observed with the target, but was later determined there was no connection to drugs," said Bankhead. "There was another situation involved that we cannot discuss." Shirley confirmed that the target of the narcotics/prostitution investigation was not in the vehicle with Ayers when the incident occurred, and said that she was in custody and had been questioned. "Obviously, when you have a tragic death, people want immediate answers," said Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brian Rickman, "but we want to give these professionals time, this has to be an extremely thorough, extremely detailed and extremely comprehensive investigation." Both Shirley and Bankehead declined to release any further details regarding the investigation, including the name of the officer involved or further details on why the officers followed Ayers to the convenience store following his departure from the target of the drug/prostitution investigation. "This is an ongoing investigation, and we cannot give out any more details, both to protect the integrity of the investigation and (out of) respect for the family," Bankhead said. Shirley initially indicated, in an interview Tuesday afternoon at the scene of the car accident, that the shooting incident occurred during a "covert operation" and that the individual involved in a drug transaction was shot at the convenience store and then fled in a vehicle, which resulted in a secondary crime scene where the car left the road (Broad Street) and possibly hit a tree. "About one hour ago, an NCIS (Narcotics Criminal Investigation and Suppression team) officer was involved in a shooting," Shirley said at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday. "We -- the Stephens County Sheriff's Office, the GBI and the Toccoa Police Department -- are investigating the officer-involved shooting," he added in his statement, adding that the individual was transported to Stephens County Hospital with a gunshot wound in his right upper abdomen," Shirley said. "The individual was alert and awake." The NCIS is a three-county drug enforcement agency that works in the Mountain Judicial Circuit of Rabun, Habersham and Stephens counties. Stating the incident was a "rapidly unfolding situation," Shirley said there was a continuing investigation into the facts, and mentioned that "we do have witnesses, other than the NCIS officer, who are being interviewed." On Wednesday morning, Shirley referred all questions concerning the case to the GBI. He said it is sheriff's department policy to bring in the GBI when there is an officer-involved shooting. Joe Joseph, owner of the convenience store, was present at his business when the incident occurred. "I thought I was watching a live movie," he said later. "I don't know when he started shooting." Joseph said he only observed shots being fired by the undercover agent, and said there were two vehicles involved -- a truck which he said contained the undercover agent who fired his weapon as well as a passenger; and a car, driven by Ayers. Joseph said, as far as he could tell, Ayers did not have a weapon. The GBI has not released a statement on the incident, and, as of press time, has been unavailable for comment. The name of the officer involved in the incident has not been released. Also visit our "Prison and Police Abuse" section. |
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