LEXINGTON - An armed man who already allegedly had shot his pregnant girlfriend took a hostage and attacked numerous law enforcement personnel in Oglethorpe County Monday afternoon.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Oglethorpe County Sheriff Mike Smith contacted GSP Post 17 regarding a possible barricaded gunman at a home on Arnold Way in Lexington just before 1 p.m. Monday.
GSP SWAT was requested at 1 p.m.. As SWAT was preparing to move in, two troopers and a captain from GSP, who were on perimeter, spotted the suspect driving in the vicinity of his home.
A pursuit ensued and the suspect pushed his hostage, identified by GSP as his pregnant girlfriend, from the vehicle. She previously had been shot in the hip. She was rushed by ambulance to Athens Regional Medical Center in poor condition, GSP reports.
Troopers were unable to pursue the suspect across the rough terrain behind the suspect's house.
A trooper, who was on his way to the other side of the perimeter, spotted the suspect several minutes later and exchanged gunfire with him, according to GSP.
The trooper's patrol vehicle was unable to make it across the rough terrain and became disabled. The suspect's vehicle also was slowed by the rough terrain, so the trooper pursued the vehicle on foot.
Eventually, the suspect made it to another logging trail, where he threatened several loggers at gunpoint and carjacked a pickup truck, GSP reports.
He also carjacked a skidder, but couldn't figure out how to drive it, GSP reports. Finally, the suspect carjacked a loaded 18-wheeler log truck and forced the driver to drive at gunpoint.
After receiving numerous 9-1-1 calls, a GSP lieutenant, two Oglethorpe deputies, three Wilkes County deputies and another trooper - still on foot - converged on the suspect, GSP reports.
The log truck, driven by the suspect's hostage, drove head-on toward the officers, who abandoned their vehicles and took cover as the suspect opened fire again.
The hostage was forced to ram the log truck into the patrol cars, damaging four law enforcement vehicles and a civilian vehicle.
The two GSP officials, along with an unknown number of deputies, open fire on the suspect, GSP reports.
The truck came to a stop and the hostage ran on foot. The suspect surrendered.
Both the suspect and the hostage had gunshot wounds. A trooper rendered aid.
The hostage was airlifted to Athens Regional Medical Center, and the suspect was taken by ground to ARMC.
Names of those involved have not been released yet.
The GBI and Georgia Department of Public Safety Office of Professional Standards are investigating.
