Accused gunman in Monroe County deputy death appears in court
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Christopher Calmer, the alleged killer of a Monroe County sheriff’s deputy, appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday.
Weak and seemingly exhausted…
That’s how one might describe alleged killer Chris Calmer on Tuesday. A slew of armed guards brought him inside the Monroe County Superior Court as a judge read a list of charges filed against him.
Calmer allegedly opened gunfire on the two deputies fatally wounding Norris, and sending Wilson to the hospital.
“It’s been extremely difficult on the family and on the deputy’s family and on the sheriff’s office family,” Sheriff John Cary Bittick said.
The 46-year-old is charged with murder, attempted murder, five counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
“Psychologically, I think it’s going to be a trying time for all of us,” Bittick said.
Bittick, wearing a button honoring the fallen deputy, says the past few days have been tough on the entire community including the school where he was a resource officer.
“I’ve never dreamed of something like this happening. You know it always touches everybody else, you never think it’s going to happen to you,” Bittick said.
He says he was especially close to Norris and watched him grow up.
“Michael was a good kid, he was a boy scout growing up, he was a really good scout,” Bittick said.
Norris was at the top of his class, and Bittick adds he had a bright future.
Now he, along with everyone else in the community, is waiting to see what happens in court, but nothing will replace one of his own.
Calmer is scheduled to go in front of a grand jury on November 10th.
He’s currently being held at an undisclosed location with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
According to Bittick, Deputy Jeff Wilson is set to leave the hospital on Tuesday and is up and walking with “the assistance of a walker.”
Norris is the first law enforcement officer to ever be killed in the line of duty in Monroe County’s history.
A funeral is scheduled for Friday, September 19 at 2 p.m. at the Public Training Center in Forsyth.
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, September 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the same location.
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