PRESS RELEASE

Terrell County, GA (October 19, 2018) – On October 18, 2018, the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate an officer involved shooting involving the Richland Police Department (RPD).

Preliminary information indicates that on October 18, 2018, at approximately 7:45 PM, RPD was conducting a road block on Highway 520 in Richland, GA.  Davion Omar Watson, age 30, of Albany, drove his vehicle to the road block and stopped.  An RPD officer asked for his driver’s license and he failed to comply with the request.  Watson fled from the roadblock and a chase ensued through Stewart, Webster, and Terrell Counties.  During the chase in Webster County, Watson hit an officer’s vehicle with his vehicle.  Watson fired gunshots at an officer’s vehicle in Terrell County.  An officer returned fire and the chase ended on South Main Street in Dawson in front of the Dawson Peddler Convenience Store. Watson ran from the vehicle to a location behind the convenience store. Thereafter, he was apprehended by law enforcement in the vicinity.

No officers were injured.  Watson received non-life-threatening injuries.  He was booked in to the Terrell County jail where charges are pending.

The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Once complete, it will be turned over to the Pataula Judicial Circuit for review.