Sheriff Gerald Couch with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office shared more details about the nighttime Sept. 3 traffic stop in Buford that turned into an officer-involved shooting, leaving the suspect with non-life threatening injuries.
The deputy was not injured in the incident.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting, and the deputy has been placed on administrative leave with pay.
According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy stopped Marshall Anthony Hooper, 37 of Buford, who was driving his motorcycle on McEver Road around 9:30 p.m.. Hooper wrecked his vehicle and allegedly tried to flee the scene.
Couch said in the statement that the deputy had reason to believe that Hooper was armed. He allegedly made several furtive movements, such as refusing to comply with the deputy's commands to show his hands.
According to the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Hooper appeared to be manipulating an object near his waistband while kneeling next to the motorcycle. Hooper turned his back on the deputy and began walking out of the area that was lit by the vehicle’s headlights into a dark, unlit area.
Hooper then abruptly turned back toward the deputy and allegedly rapidly extended his arms while holding what appeared to be a black object in his hands.
The deputy fired one round and struck Hooper in the chin area. Deputies rendered aid to Hooper while he awaited transport to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
After the shooting, investigators determined the suspect was holding a black glove in his hands, not a gun. They did not locate any weapons.
However, Couch said in the statement that the deputy reasonably believed the suspect was armed with the intent of firing a weapon.
“Our deputies do their best to keep both the public and themselves safe,” Couch said. “Often, they are placed in difficult and dangerous situations where they must make split-second decisions under extremely tense situations that are uncertain and rapidly evolving, without the benefit of hindsight.”
Couch added that the sheriff’s office hopes the suspect will make a full recovery. Once GBI agents complete their investigation, they will turn the findings over to the Hall County District Attorney for review.
