A police chase that ended near an elementary school early Monday morning sent three police officers to the hospital and resulted in the death of one suspect and the arrest of another.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, preliminary information indicates that at about 3:34 a.m. a Georgia State Patrol Trooper stopped a 2015 Nissan Sentra for speeding at mile marker 10 eastbound on I-20 in Bremen. As the trooper approached the rear of the Nissan Sentra, the driver sped off. The trooper pursued the Nissan and was able to perform a precision maneuver to stop the Nissan Sentra. The driver of the vehicle was able to gain control and keep going.
The trooper attempted to initiate a second maneuver when GBI officials say the passenger of the Nissan Sentra leaned out of the front passenger window and began firing at the trooper with a rifle. The trooper’s patrol car was struck and disabled.
The men in the Nissan Sentra continued to flee during the pursuit. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Carrollton Police Department, and Villa Rica Police Department joined the pursuit at Highway 166 and Bankhead Highway in Carrollton. During the pursuit, officials say the passenger in the Nissan Sentra continued to shoot at officers, striking Carrollton Police Department Sergeant Rob Holloway. Holloway continued the pursuit until he wrecked his patrol vehicle at the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 166.
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The pursuit continued at a high rate of speed until the Nissan crashed near Ithica Elementary School in Villa Rica. Both men ran from the vehicle, resulting in a search.
According to the GBI, at about 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., the men shot toward officers and Villa Rica Police Officer Chase Gordy returned shots and was shot twice. Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy John Repetto was also shot at and sustained a gunshot injury.
One suspect, 28-year-old Pier Alexander Shelton, of Alabama, was shot by officers and died on scene while the other man, 22-year-old Jajuan Shelton, also of Alabama, has been charged with 5 counts of aggravated assault and 3 counts of aggravated battery. He is being held at the Carroll County Jail.
Sergeant Holloway and Officer Gordy were transported to Grady Hospital in Atlanta for their injuries while Deputy Repetto was transported, treated and released from Atlanta Medical Center.
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The GBI will continue its independent investigation of the officer involved shooting. Once complete, the case file will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review. The GBI is also investigating the aggravated assault on the police officers.