In Spalding County, Georgia, a tragic incident unfolded on Friday when a sheriff’s deputy was killed during a response to a domestic disturbance call at a residence, as confirmed by officials.
Sheriff Darrell Dix detailed in a press briefing that as two deputies approached the house, a man inside the residence fired a shotgun through a window. One deputy, struck in the head by the gunfire, was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
The second deputy engaged in gunfire with the assailant. The shooter then fortified himself inside the house. The confrontation concluded when law enforcement used armored vehicles to breach the home, discovering the suspect concealed under a mattress.
The name of the fallen deputy was not immediately disclosed. Sheriff Dix described him as a respected supervisor and a veteran of the military. “He was the kind of person who would greet you with a smile and shout your name just to say hello. He had a strong presence and was deeply admired by his team,” Dix commented.
The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Todd Lamont Harper, is currently detained in Spalding County Jail. There was no immediate record of Harper in the jail logs, and his legal representation status remains unclear.
Sheriff Dix mentioned that there had been prior law enforcement visits to the residence concerning Harper’s behavior and mental health.
Spalding County, predominantly rural, has an estimated population of 67,000. Its county seat, Griffin, is located roughly 40 miles south of Atlanta.
