The man killed during a shootout with sheriff's deputies in Whitfield County, Georgia, on Monday night has been identified.
Deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office were sent to an area near the Rocky Face Post Office in Dalton around 11:30 p.m. Monday after receiving several 911 calls about a shooting incident near the intersection of Highway 41 and Westgate Road. Upon arrival, deputies found Steven Ray Bailey, 63, of Rocky Face, who was armed, according to a news release.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said officers negotiated with Bailey for "several minutes." He then began firing at the deputies with a handgun, at which point authorities said they returned fire, striking Bailey multiple times. After the shooting, deputies began life-saving procedures and Bailey was taken to Hamilton Medical Center. He was pronounced dead upon arrival. His body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
No one else was injured in the incident.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation into the shooting. Once complete, results will be provided to the Whitfield County District Attorney's Office for review.
Monday's incident marks the 60th officer-involved shooting in the state this year, according to annual statistics recorded by the GBI. Last year, there were 96 officer-involved shootings statewide.
Contact Kelcey Caulder at kcaulder@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Follow her on Twitter @kelceycaulder.