The Georgia State Patrol has released the name of the state trooper involved in a deadly shooting Saturday in Gainesville. He’s identified as Sgt. Auston Allen of Post 6 in Gainesville. Authorities say Allen fired the fatal shot as the suspect was trying to drown him. That suspect, identified as 36-year old Rodrigo Guardiola of Gainesville, had earlier fled from Allen and other state troopers who attempted to stop him after he made an illegal U-turn at a road check on GA 53 south of Oakwood.
The chase wound its way up I-985 and eventually onto Industrial Boulevard in Gainesville where it ended in a collision between the patrol cars and Guardiola’s SUV. Authorities say Guardiola and his passenger, 31-year old Epitacio Gudino, then fled the scene on foot.
According to an official GSP press release, “Sgt. Auston Allen (Post 6, Gainesville) caught up to Guardiola at a run-off creek alongside Industrial Avenue. As Sgt. Allen attempted to take Guardiola into custody, a physical altercation ensued and Guardiola attempted to submerge and hold Sgt. Allen underwater. Sgt. Allen was able to fire his Taser at Guardiola with no effective impact, at which point he fired his service weapon striking Guardiola. Guardiola succumbed to his injuries.”
Gudino was captured nearby. He’s being held in the Hall County Detention Center on charges related to the incident.
Troopers injured; names not yet released
Allen and two other troopers suffered non-life threatening injuries in the wreck and pursuit. They were treated and released from Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
“The officers will be okay physically,” says Perry. “It will take a little while probably, mentally and emotionally, to sort out what happened tonight. I will say this, the troopers involved, I know them personally. I know they have a strong faith in God and I know that’s what it’s going to take to get them through it.”
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for review. The state patrol’s Office of Professional Standards will also conduct an administrative investigation.
Road check suspended
The road check was part of a statewide pre-Fourth of July public safety campaign called Operation Thunder. The program, coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), began Thursday. It was supposed to last through the weekend but the Gainesville Times reports that GOHS director Harris Blackwood said Operation Thunder was suspended as soon as the Hall County incident happened. Prior to that, he says the operation had been “very successful.”
