SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has identified the person killed in Wednesday night’s officer-involved shooting in Sylacauga.
According to Cpl. Jimmy Harrell with ALEA, 64-year-old Gerald Richard Johns, a white male from Childersburg, suffered a gun-shot wound to the upper-right chest area and was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday.
Harrell explained on Wednesday, around 5:00 p.m., an ALEA State Trooper attempted to stop a white Mazda Miata for multiple traffic violations on Gene E. Stewart Blvd. which intersects Sylacauga-Fayetteville Hwy. near Sylacauga. As a result, a vehicle pursuit ensued as the diver eluded the State Trooper.
Once the chase ended, the unidentified trooper exited his vehicle and attempted to take the driver into custody. While inside the door of Johns’ vehicle, Johns re-accelerated and dragged the Trooper, injuring him. While hanging from the vehicle door, the State Trooper fired his weapon at the driver and killed him.
The Trooper was transported to a local hospital where he was evaluated and released. “This is a dangerous job every day,” Harrell said. “We try to serve the state the best we can. ”
Harrell said the State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the the shooting with assistance from the Talladega County Sheriff’s Office and the Talladega County District Attorney’s Office.
No more information was available from ALEA. Harrell said as information is received it will be released.
ALEA Public Information Officer Robyn Bryan told SylacaugaNews.com the next step in the investigation is SBI agents will complete an investigation with the TCSO and turn all information over to the District Attorney’s office.
