CALHOUN, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into the death of a Tennessee man who shot himself following a multi-county police pursuit in North Georgia.
What we know:
Authorities say Robert Smith, 35, of Cookeville, Tennessee, was wanted for aggravated assault out of Nashville.
Smith reportedly traveled to Georgia and was reportedly staying with a woman and her child in metro Atlanta. On Thursday morning, he allegedly woke her up, pulled out a gun, and demanded that she drive him back to Nashville.
“He woke her up this morning and produced a handgun and demanded that she drive him to Nashville, Tennessee,” said Calhoun Police Chief Pyle.
When they stopped at Buc-ee’s mega gas station on Union Grove Road in Calhoun, the woman ran into the store to hide and asked employees to call 911.
When officers with the Calhoun Police Department arrived and attempted to speak with Smith, he allegedly fired a shot in their direction before carjacking a customer and fleeing northbound on Interstate 75.
“He stopped, turned around and fired a couple of shots back at the officer. At this point, of course, the officer dove for cover, and fortunately was not hit,” said Chief Pyle.
A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert was issued for the stolen vehicle. Deputies with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office later spotted the car and attempted to stop it. Smith reportedly fired at deputies while driving. Shortly after, he fatally shot himself and crashed the stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers discharged their weapons during the incident, officials said.
“He had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Chief Pyle explained.
Chief Pyle also pointed out that if the incident had taken place a little later in the day when Buc-ee’s is typically packed, he fears others could have been hurt.
“I have no doubt in my mind that it would have turned out differently,” said Chief Pyle.
Smith’s body has been sent to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
What’s next:
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Whitfield County District Attorney’s Office for review.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at gbi.georgia.gov, or through the “See Something, Send Something” mobile app.
The Source: This story has been updated since it was originally reported. The new information was provided by Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation. FOX 5 Atlanta also spoke to the Calhoun Police Department on Thursday afternoon.
