Cordele, GA – A Georgia sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot early on Wednesday morning by a fugitive who then stole his patrol vehicle.

The incident began at about 3:40 a.m. on July 5 when a Crisp County sheriff’s deputy spotted a suspicious vehicle in the 1300-block of Highway 280 West in Cordele, WGXA reported.

The vehicle came back as stolen and the deputy was advised the driver was wanted for multiple burglaries in the area and might be armed.

When the deputy got out of his patrol vehicle to return to the stolen car, the driver opened fire on him, WGXA reported.

Then the suspect stole the wounded deputy’s patrol vehicle.

The wounded hero was transported to Crisp Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds, WXIA reported.

Authorities said the alleged murderer led law enforcement officers on a chase through central Georgia that finally came to an end on Interstate 475 in Monroe County three hours later.

Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman announced his sheriff’s deputies had made an arrest and recovered the stolen police vehicle.

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was heading up the investigation into the deputy’s murder, WXIA reported.

“Last night, a Crisp County Sheriff’s deputy met evil as he patrolled the streets of Crisp County,” Sheriff Hancock told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday morning.

The sheriff has not yet released the name of the fallen hero to the public.

Please pray for our Sheriff’s Dept. We had an officer shot and killed this AM! pic.twitter.com/GdNwGN58Ly

— Chief J. Banks (@J_Banks48) July 5, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the Crisp County Sheriff's Office Georgia Deputy Sheriff. Losing a law enforcement officer in the line of duty is a tragic event. I join you in expressing condolences to the deputy's family, friends, Crisp County Sheriffs Office, and the… pic.twitter.com/ZzCf0ARCMc

— Madison4Sheriff (@Madison4S) July 5, 2023

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