Attempted Car Jacking in Toccoa Leads to Habersham Shooting

A shooting occurs this morning in Habersham County involving a suspect who was believed to have stolen a vehicle in White County and attempted a carjacking in Toccoa.

According to Police Chief Tim Jarrell, at 7:34 Sunday morning, the Toccoa Police Department was contacted by the White County Sheriff’s Office about a vehicle that was taken after a weapon was brandished.

Jarrell said about an hour later, the Toccoa Police Department received reports of an attempted carjacking in Toccoa.

“The Toccoa Police Department received a 911 call from a person who was at the Toccoa Nursing Home, which is also Pruitt Health on Falls Road and said that someone attempted to take their vehicle from them and pointed a gun at them,” said Jarrell.
Jarrell said officers arrived on scene and were able to get a description of the suspect and direction of travel, at which point Jarrell contacted Habersham County 911.

“We contacted Habersham County 911,” said Jarrell. “In return, a Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy made contact with a vehicle matching the description that was given from White County and from us there near or around the Tom Arrendale intersection of 441 or GA 15.”

According to the Habersham County Sheriff Office Public Information Officer Matt Wurtz, the shooting occurred when the deputy made the traffic stop on the suspect believed to be responsible for the carjacking.

“There was a shooting involving the suspect, we think,” said Wurtz. “The vehicle fit the BOLO we were given. The suspect went up GA 15 northbound from the Stephens County side. The deputy got in behind him to conduct a traffic stop and at that point he was involved in the shooting.”

The deputy who was involved was not injured and Wurtz said he is currently on paid administrative leave pending the investigation per Habersham County Sheriff’s Office protocol.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting in this investigation and no details on the suspect have been released.

WNEG News will provide more details as they are made available.