WINDER - Despite initial reports that only one Hall County deputy was shot during a Barrow County standoff Friday afternoon, The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) now says that two deputies were injured during the incident.
According to an updated media release from Nelly Miles with the GBI's Office of Public Affairs, the deputies were struck by gunfire from 45-year-old Jason Foreman of Lula. The shooting occurred at a Melinda Drive residence in Winder as they were attempting to serve Foreman with an arrest warrant for a Hall County murder that took place the day before.
Neither deputies' injuries were thought to be life-threatening.
Miles said one of the deputies immediately returned fire, and it is currently believed that Foreman was struck as he retreated from his initial position into an "enclosed garage structure."
Earlier reports stated that the suspect barricaded himself inside the home following the exchange of gunfire. A GBI robot would locate the suspect's deceased body inside the structure following a short window of negotiation efforts.
At this time, none of the deputies involved in the case have been identified.
Foreman's body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy and further examination; that process is expected to take place Monday.
An earlier version of the story containing more information on the case has been included below:
UNDATED - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case involving a standoff in Barrow County that began with Hall County deputies trying to serve warrants on a murder suspect Friday afternoon.
Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Nicole Bailes said deputies were looking for 45-year-old Jason Foreman at a home on Melinda Drive when it all started around 3:00 p.m. Friday.
"They were met with gunfire from our suspect. Officers did return fire and subsequently did strike Mr. Foreman," Bailes told CBS 46.
In a news release, Bailes said deputies retreated and called in Barrow and Hall County SWAT teams. Foreman had barricaded himself inside the home after the exchange of gunfire.
"After a period of time negotiating, a GBI robot was able to verify that Foreman was deceased," Bailes wrote.
During the gunfire, one of the Hall County deputies was hit. In social media posts Friday afternoon, the Barrow County Sheriff's Office indicated the deputy's gunshot wound was not life threatening.
Bailes said one of the Hall deputies who initially responded has been placed on administrative leave, pending the investigation.
So far, authorities have not released the names of the deputies involved in the Friday incident. Nelly Miles with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Office of Public Affairs said the agency was working on an updated statement Saturday morning.
A few details are also beginning to emerge in the murder Foreman was a suspect in. It happened in the Lula area of Hall County late Thursday afternoon.
Deputies responded to a shots fired call at 4181 Cagle Road around 5:53 p.m., according to Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Nicole Bailes.
"We do have a victim that is deceased, (a) 32-year-old male that was deceased from stab wound there," Bailes told CBS 46.
Bailes Saturday morning identified the victim as Jessie Weber of Lula.
Weber was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he underwent surgery. He died later Thursday evening, according to Bailes.
Bailes said investigators don't believe the incident was a random crime. She said Foreman and Weber were what she described as acquaintances of one another.
Weber's body was taken to the Dekalb County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/10/343341/update-two-hall-co-deputies-injured-in-fridays-winder-standoff