The Stephen County Sheriff’s Office said a suspect was taken into custody Monday night after allegedly shooting at deputies earlier in the day.
Deputies responded to the area of Christine Circle around 3 p.m. after receiving a report of gunshots being fired.
According to Sheriff Randy Shirley, they arrived at the scene and began talking to the victims when the suspect allegedly fired on deputies. Nobody was hit by the gunfire, but at least one patrol car was hit.
At around 8:30 p.m., law enforcement from multiple agencies responded to Persimmon Street in Toccoa after receiving a tip that the suspect was at a house there. Deputies said when crews arrived, they surrounded the residence and convinced the suspect to surrender peacefully. Suspect Tristen Grafton was taken into custody without incident.
Sheriff Shirley says the incident was sparked Sunday by a dispute over dogs that escalated into gunfire. The suspect allegedly shot a neighbor’s dog with a .22 caliber rifle. He returned to the address on Christine Circle Monday afternoon, Oct. 23, and shot at the dog’s owner, Shirley said.
No one was injured. The dog survived.
The sheriff’s office launched a multi-agency, hours-long manhunt for the suspect. Personnel from the GBI, Georgia State Patrol, and Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division assisted.
The gunman faces at least three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer.
