Crime & Safety

Oconee Man Kills Self After Deputy-Involved Shooting

Oconee County Sheriff's Office reports a local man is dead following a shooting incident Thursday evening.

Update:

More details have been released about a shooting incident that left an Oconee man dead Thursday evening on Jones Road in northern Oconee County.

In a press release early Friday, authorities said a hostage situation between a landlord and tenant turned deadly when a male suspect fatally shot himself.

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Deputies arrived on the scene around 5:30 p.m. to find an adult female victim who  had been shot and an armed suspect pointing a weapon at them, the news release said.  One deputy fired a single shot from his patrol rifle that hit the suspect, and then the suspect fatally shot himself, the press release said.

The woman was treated for a single non-lethal gunshot wound, Chief Deputy Lee Weems said.

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Although neither the male suspect nor the female victim have been identified, Oconee County Sheriff Office named Sergeant Shane Partain as the deputy who fired the shot.

"Based upon our initial investigation, we believe this was a justified use of force by Sgt. Partain; however, we will let the independent review run its course," the news release stated, adding that the deputy is on his regularly scheduled days off.

Barrow County Sheriff's Office is conducting the outside investigation  and representatives of the 10th District Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office were on the scene, the press release noted.

A press conference has been tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Oconee County Sheriff's Office, according to the news release.

Earlier Version:

A local man is dead as a result of a shooting involving an deputy  Thursday evening, according to reports

Oconee Chief Deputy Lee Weems told the Athens Banner-Herald that the man confronted and shot a woman and then a deputy fired at the man before the man ultimately killed himself about 5:30 p.m. on Jones Road. 

The man's identity is not yet being released, but he is believed to be about 42 years-old, the ABH story said.

The woman, who has not been named, is  being treated for injuries and is expected to survive, according to the ABH article.

No Sheriff's Office personnel were harmed in the confrontation, Weems said in the ABH story.

Following standard procedure of deputy-involved shootings, the unnamed deputy has been relieved of his duties pending the outcome of an outside investigation by Barrow County Sheriff's Office, Weems told the Athens Banner-Herald.

Check back as further details are made available.


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