NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A deputy is recovering and a suspect is dead after a standoff in Newton County on Tuesday evening.
A news release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the shooting happened before 6:30 p.m. in the 3400 block of Highway 162 in Covington.
The GBI said the sheriff’s office responded to arrest 27-year-old Alexander Collins, who had outstanding warrants for aggravated assault, fake imprisonment, and pointing a gun at another person.
That’s when deputies trying to negotiate with Collins and the sheriff’s office SWAT team was called in to help, they said.
SWAT tried to arrest Collins when he came out of the house around 8:30 p.m., the GBI said He pulled out a gun and started shooting at deputies.
One deputy shot back, hitting Collins. EMS tried to revive him, but Collins was pronounced dead at the scene, they said.
“Deputies arrived, he barricaded himself inside the house. We were able to get him out and outside the house, shots were exchanged," said Caitlin Jett of the Newton County Sheriff's Office. "Our officer was wounded and the suspect was pronounced deceased by the coroner.”
The injured deputy was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and was later released.
Jett said the person killed is a resident in the area.
"I do want to say it is a tragic incident. He was a resident of this community, so our hearts do go out to his family regardless of the situation," Jett told 11Alive during a live interview. "And on behalf of Sheriff Ezell Brown we do want to extend our hearts to the officer who is at the hospital right now. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
The GBI is independently investigating the shooting. When it’s complete, they’ll turn it over to the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
