Columbia Co. Sheriff's Office gives update on deadly officer involved shooting
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – The Columbia County Sheriff's Office gave an update on Saturday night's deadly officer involved shooting that claimed the life of one deputy and injured another.
That incident happened Saturday around 6:30 p.m. near Exit 194 (Belair Road) on I-20 Westbound.
Investigators say three deputies were attempting to serve a Temporary Protective Order warrant against the suspect, James Blake Montgomery. Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle stated during the press conference that Montgomery was initially cooperative during the traffic stop, and that as the three deputies turned to walk back to their vehicle, Montgomery opened fire with a 9mm AR Pistol.
Deputy Brandon Sikes was shot and killed in the incident. Deputy Gavin White was shot in the face.
Columbia County officers then engaged Montgomery as he attempted to flee in the RV, veering off the interstate and into the wire barrier, stopping the vehicle.
The incident left that area of I-20 closed for several hours, Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Sheriff Whittle states that White is in critical condition, but has been able to communicate, saying he has a long road to recovery.
Sikes is survived by his wife, Amber, who is also an employee of the Sheriff's Office.
Montgomery is confirmed to be deceased. Inside his RV, investigators found pipe bombs, bomb making materials, numerous guns and ammo. Jars of an unidentified liquid were also found inside the motor home. Sheriff Whittle stated that Montgomery was involved in the selling of illegal steroids.
Deputies Andrew Brown and Jared Mason both returned fire and Sheriff Whittle says they may have been what killed Montgomery. We won't know for sure until autopsy.
When Brown noticed that White had been shot, he dragged him past several police cars while under fire from the suspect. He got him into another car and drove him directly to Doctors Hospital, while still under gunfire, without calling an ambulance. His quick action is what may have saved White's life.
An autopsy is scheduled at the GBI Crime Lab.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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