Armed Robbery in Statesboro Leads to Crash and OIS, Suspect Deceased, GBI Investigating

Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded Thursday night to an armed robber at the Marathon Store on Hwy 80 East and observed the suspect vehicle, a large U-Haul truck. As deputies pursued the truck, it struck multiple law enforcement vehicles and almost hit deputies. Deputies followed the truck out Hwy 301 North past Clito Road, where Georgia State Troopers were able to stop the truck with a PIT Maneuver. The truck left the road, hit a power pole, and ended up in a wooded area. Ignoring verbal commands, the suspect then drove the truck toward the deputies. Multiple deputies and a trooper fired at him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. GBI is conducting an independent investigation. The suspect’s body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Pooler for an autopsy.

From BCSO Thursday evening: 

On June 27th at 9:54 p.m. the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office received a call for an armed robbery at the Marathon Store on Hwy 80 East. Responding Deputies observed the suspect vehicle, a large U-Haul moving truck, which refused to stop. Deputies pursued the truck and attempted to force it to stop. The suspect intentionally struck multiple law enforcement vehicles and almost hit several Deputies who had gotten out on foot. The pursuit continued out Hwy 301 North where Deputies and Georgia State Troopers were finally able to stop the vehicle which crashed into some power lines. Shots were fired by multiple law enforcement officers during the incident. At this time the suspect is deceased at the scene near Clito Road and Hwy 301 North. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is on the scene and will be the lead agency conducting this investigation. The road will be shut down tonight and possibly into tomorrow morning at 301 North and Brooks Hendrix Road.

From GBI 06/28/2024:

At the request of the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Bulloch County, Georgia. One man died during the incident. No deputies or troopers were injured in this incident.

The preliminary information indicates that at about 9:55 p.m., on June 27, 2024, Bulloch County 911 received a report of an armed robbery at the Marathon gas station located at 21196 US Hwy 80 in Statesboro. The suspect was described as a man driving a U-Haul truck. Responding deputies spotted a U-Haul truck matching the description and attempted to make a traffic stop. The man refused to stop, and deputies began to chase him. Georgia State Patrol troopers responded to assist deputies in the pursuit, which traveled through Statesboro and into the county. Deputies and troopers made multiple attempts to stop the driver including using stop sticks and the PIT maneuver. Troopers performed a PIT Maneuver on the vehicle, which resulted in the U-Haul leaving the road on Hwy 301 at Brooks Hendrix Road and hitting a power pole before coming to rest in the woods. Deputies and troopers approached the truck and gave verbal commands for the man to get out of the truck; however, the man drove the truck towards the deputies. Multiple deputies and a trooper fired at the man. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man’s body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Pooler, Georgia for an autopsy.

The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.