LUMPKIN COUNTY — Following an intense overnight manhunt, law enforcement today captured a gunman who shot at Lumpkin County deputies Sunday. Gerardo “Jerry” Johnathan Flowers was taken into custody Monday afternoon.
Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced his arrest to the public on social media, thanking the men and women of the sheriff’s office “who pursued him all night.”
“He is in custody, so, we’ll take care of him and, hopefully, we can get him in the right direction,” the sheriff said of Flowers.
Flowers, who is wanted on active warrants in Lumpkin, Hall, and possibly Habersham counties, led deputies on a chase southeast of Dahlonega Sunday. During the pursuit, he reportedly opened fire on deputies, fled from his vehicle, and ran into the woods.
The sheriff says Flowers “put out a note” that he wanted to do suicide by cop. “That’s very unfortunate to put people in that kind of [harm’s] way,” Jarrard said.
Law enforcement surrounded the area and searched for Flowers with the GSP Aviation unit and tracking dogs on the ground overnight. Residents in the area were instructed to lock up their property and call 911 if they saw anything suspicious.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting or search.
