An apparent traffic stop gone wrong resulted in the death of an Elberton man in Elbert County Thursday night.
A Georgia State Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Edwin Amaya Maldonado, 24, of Elberton on Ga. 77 at Red Hill Road in the area of the Georgia Guidestones, according to a statement released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The stop occurred about 7:45 p.m..
"During the stop, Maldonado was found to be driving without a license and suspected of driving under the influence," the statement reads. "The trooper attempted to arrest Maldonado for the offenses, at which time Maldonado resisted arrest and reached for the trooper’s gun belt. The trooper shot Maldonado one time, striking him in the torso area."
Maldonado died at the scene.
As is standard procedure in such instances, the GBI was requested to conduct an independent investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident. When that investigation is complete, it will be provided to Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White's office for review.
An autopsy on Maldonado is being conducted at the GBI's State Crime Lab in Decatur.
