Editor’s Note: On the night of Sept. 12, 2022, a Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy responding to a 911 call shot and killed a Mt. Airy man who opened the door of his home holding what turned out to be a fake gun. The GBI is investigating the shooting. The sheriff says the officer involved was placed on paid administrative leave. The family of the man who was killed, 39-year-old Anthony Maurice Tollison, has indicated he was suffering from recent health issues and his death may have been a suicide by cop. While expressing their hope that things could have turned out differently, the family has also expressed their sympathy for the deputy who killed Tollison. What follows is an open letter written by Tollison’s nephew, Rusty Lynn, to that deputy.
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To The Officer,
This is to the Officer that was forced to do his job and uphold an Oath he swore to the community to Protect and Serve.
I am the nephew of Anthony Maurice Tollison (Uncle TJ) most of us called him. I don’t think words can describe the feelings and emotions we are going through not only for the loss of our Uncle but also for the emotions and feelings you yourself must be going through.
Nobody ever expected this from Uncle TJ. He had his moments where he would be down and out of it but we could always reel him back to the person we knew. He was happy and special. He was our rock when we needed him. He helped us when he couldn’t really afford to help himself. He would always put others 1st before himself. He was a hero to a lot of people. As we mourn the loss of him, we have not forgotten about the burden that weighs heavy upon your shoulders.
You [were] forced into a situation that no one should have to face. We cannot imagine the emotions and thoughts you are now facing from that night that will affect you for the rest of your life. For that we are sorry. In our eyes you did nothing wrong. You were forced to make a life or death situation. That is a split-second decision that you have been trained for to uphold your oath and you did your job. Our hearts are broken, but not because an officer of the law shot our loved one, [but] because our loved one didn’t give you a choice – didn’t give you time to realize he wanted it this way.
Now, we have to worry about if you land in another situation where it’s life or death, will you hesitate? Will you second guess protecting yourself, your brothers and sisters in blue, and the community? And for that, we say this to you: You did your job. You did what you had to do to protect and serve when it appeared your life was in danger.
No Officer should ever have to go through this. No family should have to go through this, but it happens. For some reason it happens and, unfortunately, we are the ones that have to go through this. So, from our family to yours, we are deeply saddened by this event and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We hope that you can move past this tragic event and continue with your duties as an officer who we know protects and serves the community to the best of your abilities. Bravery is not absence of fear but Action in the face of fear.
Sincerely,
The Family of Anthony Maurice Tollison
