GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The GBI has now identified the man who died after he drove his car into Lake Lanier as he opened fire on officers, Friday.
Investigators said 26-year-old John James Monahan Jr. led police on a high-speed chase before going into the lake. One witness said he saw it all from the beginning.
Andy Adams said he was driving on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard on his way to North Carolina when he saw a car blow by him hitting other cars.
"He came past us well over 100 miles per hour," Adams said.
Adams said that, at that moment, he wasn't sure what was happening. But he saw the crash and knew it wasn't a good situation.
What he saw next surprised him, to say the least.
"I got out to check on people because there were three cars that were badly damaged," he said. "At that point, I saw him running away up the hill."
And police were hot on his trail.
But the suspect didn't leave the vehicle empty-handed according to investigators. He came out with a rifle in-hand and was allegedly opening fire at the officers who were following.
He managed to steal another car and lead police on a chase once more. But this one ended at Shoal Creek Park when he drove into the waters of Lake Lanier.
Investigators said he continued to shoot at police as the car sank. And police returned fire. Divers soon found Monahan's body in the water.
Adams said that after everything he saw, he's just glad innocent people weren't hurt.
"I think it's not only fortunate he didn't kill somebody with the car but, if he was that unstable, it's very fortunate he didn't get out of the car shooting since he shot at the police," he said.
No officers were hurt in the gunfire and the passengers in the car hit in the initial crash only had minor injuries according to the Georgia State Patrol.
The GBI is also investigating the shooting now since officers were involved in the final shootout. An autopsy is planned for Monday.
