A man was shot and killed and three Georgia State Patrol troopers were injured Saturday night during an Operation Thunder Task Force road check in Hall County.
GSP Capt. Mark Perry, speaking to media outside Northeast Georgia Medical Center, said the incident started around 8:25 p.m. when two suspects, who have been identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as vehicle driver Rodrigo Guardiola, age 36, and passenger Epitacio Gudino, age 31, fled from the troopers during a road check on Highway 53 in Oakwood.
"Two troopers began a pursuit for an improper u-turn," Perry said. "They made it to 985 northbound and after they got to I-985 northbound, they turned off onto Queen City Parkway...turned back toward town."
At that point, according to Perry, the suspects in the Ford Explorer began using their vehicle to strike the trooper's patrol car. The two vehicles crashed on Industrial Boulevard just off Queen City Parkway.
"Two males got out...a foot pursuit ensued and as one of the troopers caught up to the driver of the vehicle, there was an intense struggle for about a minute, minute-and-a-half, which resulted ultimately in shots being fired and the violator being shot," Perry said.
According to the GBI, Guardiola was fighting the trooper and attempting to submerge him underwater. Two additional troopers arrived on scene. The GBI said Guardiola was first tased, but the officer then fired his pistol, striking and killing Guardiola. Gudino was captured nearby, approximately 45 minutes later.
All three troopers were treated for their injuries at the area hospital and were subsequently released. Gudino remains in custody in Hall County on charges related to the incident.
The GBI is conducting an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident.
The GBI is conducting an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident.
Perry said the three troopers involved in the incident suffered non-life threatening injuries.
"The officers will be okay physically. It'll take a little while probably mentally and emotionally to sort out what happened tonight," Perry said. "The troopers involved - I know them personally - I know they have a strong faith in God and I know that's what it's going to take to get them through it."
Law enforcement from about 15 different agencies had been in Hall County since Thursday taking part in Operation Rolling Thunder, looking for traffic violations.
Harris Blackwood, the Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety said the operation was suspended when the incident occurred.
"We suspended it and immediately thereafter...the officers who were here from out of town, we sent them back home. We brought it to a close. It was the proper thing to do," said Blackwood.
AccessWDUN's Russell Brown contributed to this report.
