The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has identified the man shot to death by Hall County Sheriff's Office deputies Thursday morning as a California man.
GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said Joseph Villanueva, 29, was shot during the confrontation with three deputies at Ridgeway Mobile Home Park. The deputies had gone to the scene after a 911 caller reported a suspicious man walking around the neighborhood.
Miles said based on the investigation so far, Villanueva was confronted first by one deputy.
"The subject showed the deputy his gun. The deputy attempted to make contact with the subject but he ran," Miles said. "The subject ran up a hill and encountered a second deputy and charged towards this deputy with his gun pointed at him."
At that point, deputies fired at Villanueva, hitting him multiple times.
"He died at the scene," Miles said. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, June 15 on Villanueva's body.
Miles said there is evidence Villanueva discharged his gun during the incident. No deputies were injured. All three remain on administrative leave while the investigation is underway.
Miles added Villanueva does have a criminal background, but she did not offer more specific information on his history.
