No video captured the shootout involving Rossville man, Walker County officers

Defense attorney Joshua Smith and his client, Robert Eric Owenby, listen to testimony during Owenby's court hearing Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges. Defense attorney Joshua Smith and his client, Robert Eric Owenby, listen to testimony during Owenby's court hearing Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

By Tyler Jett June 3, 2019 5 min read

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Robert Owenby trial

Jeremiah Johnson testifies about jumping out of a moving car during a police chase in 2018 during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Johnson is a neighbor of Owenby's and in the car with Owenby at the time of an attempted traffic stop in 2018.

Walker County Sgt. Bobby Webber looks at a map he drew of the scene following a police-involved shooting in 2018 during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Defense attorney Joshua Smith gives his opening statements during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Lynsay Chapman delivers her opening statements during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Lynsay Chapman asks a question to a witness during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Defense attorney Joshua Smith asks a question of a witness during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Georgia Department of Community Supervision officer Chip Atchley testifies during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Robert Eric Owenby looks at information on a computer during his court hearing Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Walker County Detective Zachary Simpson testifies during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Jeremiah Johnson testifies during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Johnson is a neighbor of Owenby's and in the car with Owenby at the time of an attempted traffic stop in 2018.

Walker County Deputy Harley Elliott talks about being shot at following his attempt to pull over a vehicle in 2018 during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Walker County Deputy Harley Elliott looks at a map he drew of the scene following a police-involved shooting in 2018 during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Jeremiah Johnson is sworn in to testify during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Johnson is a neighbor of Owenby, and said he was in the car when a Walker County Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on Owenby in 2018.

Walker County Sgt. Bobby Webber reacts after testifying that he felt lucky to be alive to see his family after a police-involved shooting he was a part of in 2018 during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Robert Eric Owenby speaks with his attorney Joshua Smith during his court hearing Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Robert Eric Owenby listens to testimony during his court hearing Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Walker County Sgt. Bobby Webber testifies during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

Walker County Deputy Harley Elliott is sworn in to testify during the Robert Eric Owenby court case Monday, June 3, 2019 in Walker County Superior Court in LaFayette, Georgia. Owenby is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of obstruction of officers, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and other charges.

LAFAYETTE, Ga. – Robert Eric Owenby ended a police chase last November when he crashed his girlfriend’s Hyundai Sonata into a tree on a construction site. He crawled out the passenger’s side door, pausing for a moment to lean back to the driver’s side, Walker County (Georgia) Deputy Harley Elliott said. It was as if he was grabbing for something.

He got out of the car and faced Elliott. The deputy held a stun gun in his left hand and a Glock 9 millimeter in his right. Elliott said he yelled, commanded Owenby to show his hands. He showed his left. But his right hand remained tucked inside his flannel.

Elliott said he deployed his stun gun at Owenby but missed. Owenby slid his hand out of his shirt and pointed a gun at Elliott. Elliott dropped the stun gun.

“Did he fire?” Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Lynsay Chapman asked in Walker County Superior Court on Monday afternoon, the first day of a criminal trial against Owenby.

“He did,” Elliott said.