LAKELAND, Ga. (AP) — A suspect in a Florida killing, a resident of a south Georgia county and a sheriff’s deputy were all hit by gunfire as the suspect fled authorities, according to officials.
Lanier County deputies were called to a home invasion on Wednesday in which a resident was shot and someone tried to steal his vehicle, The Valdosta Daily Times quoted Sheriff Nick Norton as saying.
Deputies began chasing a car driven by a man believed to be connected with a Tuesday killing in Tampa, Florida. The man was identified as 37-year-old William “Billy” Welland. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the black Audi he was driving was stolen in Tampa.
After Welland crashed that car, he broke into another home, stole a minivan and continued fleeing, Norton said.
When deputies cornered Welland northeast of Lakeland, he began shooting, grazing a deputy under her arm, according to the sheriff. He said it was the woman’s first day as a Lanier County deputy.