The man who was involved in a chase with Banks County sheriff’s deputies early Wednesday morning on I-85 near Commerce is dead, according to a social media posting by the sheriff’s office. The incident led to the closing of the northbound lanes near the U.S. 441 exit for about four hours.
The series of events that led to the shootout actually began in Braselton in adjoining Jackson County, according to the sheriff’s office there, when the driver of a tractor-trailer reported that he was on I-85 and was being shot at but the suspect vehicle had left the scene, headed north toward Banks County.
Banks County deputies spotted the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it but a chase ensued, finally ending when the officers forced it stop. But, according to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, who’s named has not been released, began firing at the officers who returned his fire, killing him. No deputies were wounded and the investigation, as a matter of routine, has been taken over by the GBI.