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Clayton County Sheriff's Office searching for 'armed and dangerous' suspect after three shots are fired

The Clayton County Sheriff's Office said to avoid the area of Upper Riverdale Road and Arrowhead Blvd due to the law enforcement presence.

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Clayton County Sheriff's Office deputies are searching for a suspect on Tuesday evening who they say is armed and dangerous. 

The sheriff's office said for people to avoid the area of Upper Riverdale Road and Arrowhead Blvd due to law enforcement presence in the area. The agency then posted another update stating it is searching for Dequan Wright and that he should be considered armed and dangerous. 

The incident initially started as a traffic stop on I-75 for a tag violation. Wright allegedly refused to stop -- initiating a pursuit with speeds reaching 100 mph. This continued as the suspect got off the Tara Blvd exit and was accused of crashing into two cars at a gas station and then a pole. The suspect then jumped out of the car and ran toward a graveyard, according to the sheriff. Graveyard workers were there and said the suspect told them to be quiet, and he continued out into the woodline. 

Credit: Clayton County Sheriff

Around the same time, the Clayton County Police Department responded to a disturbance at an apartment complex on Upper Riverdale Road. The police's suspect, who has not yet been identified, ran into the same area as Wright was being pursued, the sheriff's office said. 

According to the sheriff, there was a subject in the area who fired three shots. It's currently unclear if it was Wright or another, but both suspects have not been detained as of Monday night. 

Credit: Cody Alcorn | WXIA

Witnesses then caught a picture of Wright jumping into the back of a vehicle and realized it was potentially the suspect after the sheriff's office sent out an alert. The sheriff's office has tracked that car down to Atlanta. Wright is wanted for probation violation. He was already charged with eluding police and allegedly broke probation by not taking a class. 

Wright is facing a new slew of charges connected to the pursuit, two hit and run and the possible shots fired. 

In general, Wright is 6'4 and 170 pounds, according to the sheriff's office. He should be wearing a tank top, skinny jeans and no shoes. The sheriff's office encourages anyone who spots him to call 911. 

11Alive has a crew at the scene and will update this story once we receive more information. 

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