UPDATE: GBI investigating officer-involved shooting after Wheeler County chase and standoff, suspects identified
The GBI says a Florida man opened fire during a multi-county chase and hours-long standoff in Wheeler County. Two suspects are now in custody.
UPDATE (10:45 p.m.): The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into an officer-involved shooting that happened Thursday after a high-speed chase through Laurens and Wheeler counties, according to a news release from the GBI.
According to the release, the incident started around 11:15 a.m. when two Laurens County deputies tried to stop a silver Equinox on U.S. 441 in Laurens County. Deputies had been alerted the SUV matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen in a carjacking in Jacksonville, Florida.
The GBI says the deputy attempted a PIT maneuver, but the driver—identified as 27-year-old Brianna Michelle Long of Jacksonville—regained control and kept driving. While the chase continued, a passenger in the SUV began firing at deputies. He was later identified as 30-year-old Steven Allen Shinholster II of Orange Park, Florida.
Law enforcement says Shinholster continued firing at deputies as the SUV crossed into Wheeler County. Long then ran a stop sign at the intersection of U.S. 441 and U.S. 280 and crashed the vehicle in a nearby field.
Investigators say both suspects ran from the scene into the woods. Shinholster was armed with a rifle and continued shooting at deputies. One Laurens County deputy returned fire, but neither suspect was hit.
The GBI says Shinholster also fired at a Georgia State Patrol trooper who responded to help. One of the rounds struck the trooper’s vehicle while the trooper was inside, but the trooper was not injured.
The standoff lasted several hours. Just after 3 p.m., a GSP SWAT team arrested both Long and Shinholster.
They were booked into the Laurens County Detention Center and face multiple counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer in Laurens and Wheeler counties.
The GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the assaults and the officer-involved shooting. Once complete, the case will be turned over to the Dublin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.
ORIGINAL STORY (4:02 p.m.):
MCRAE-HELENA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Law enforcement agencies from multiple Middle Georgia counties say suspects involved in a stolen vehicle chase and shootout on Thursday are now in custody, and all law enforcement officers are safe.
According to a Facebook post from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop a stolen vehicle carrying “armed suspects” earlier Thursday. Deputies said multiple shots were fired at deputies during the chase, which ended in a crash in McRae near the intersection of U.S. 441 and Highway 280.
Deputies said both suspects ran from the scene, which led to a manhunt involving multiple agencies.
In a separate post, the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office described an “active standoff situation” at the same intersection. Sheriff Glen Giles urged residents to avoid the area and said no through traffic was allowed. The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the roads were back open.
Telfair County Sheriff Sim Davidson also issued a public alert Thursday and referred to a hostage. “Suspect has been taken into custody and his hostage is safe,” Davidson said. Earlier, he asked for prayers for the law enforcement personnel involved and described the scene as “very dangerous.”
The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office said “both suspects” were captured and no law enforcement officers were injured.
“Your teamwork and dedication helped bring this dangerous situation to a safe resolution,” the post said. An additional post showed the captured suspects.
Deputies have not released the names of those involved.
