The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Union County following the death of an 85-year-old Blairsville man.
Union County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed Wendall Cross after he fired his gun at them, the GBI says.
The shooting happened at about 3:20 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at a home on Wesley Mountain Road. Union County deputies were dispatched to the home after 911 received a call about a domestic dispute with a gun. Deputies tried negotiating with Cross, who was armed. The GBI says Cross fired his gun toward the deputies while they were giving him commands to put down his gun.
Deputies returned fire and shot Cross, according to the GBI. He was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries.
The GBI says it will conduct an independent investigation and provide a report of its findings to the Union County District Attorney’s Office for review.
This is the eighth officer-involved shooting in Georgia this year and the second one to result in a fatality.
Last year, there were 103 officer-involved shootings statewide, resulting in 48 fatalities.
