GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Elbert County - UPDATE

Elberton, GA (December 1, 2020) – On Monday, November 30, 2020, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Jennifer Boggs, 36. Boggs, a former Elbert County Sheriff’s Deputy, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless conduct. Boggs’ charges stem from an officer involved shooting investigation occurring in Bowman, Elbert County, GA, on September 30, 2020.  

The GBI investigation revealed that Mac J. Cunningham, 33, of Hartwell, GA, had contacted Elbert County 911, threatening to harm himself. Before the dispatcher could get any information or offer any assistance, he hung up the phone. Elbert County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) was able to identify where the call was made from, which was within a cemetery located off Rehobath Road in Bowman. ECSO deputies arrived on scene and made contact with Cunningham. He was sitting inside a pick-up truck with a handgun and indicated to the deputies he wanted to harm himself. 

ECSO deputies attempted to offer Cunningham help and try to get him to surrender the gun. At one point, Deputy Jonathan Alewine attempted to break the side window of the vehicle, at which point Jennifer Boggs fired her handgun multiple times. Deputy Alewine was shot in the hand by that gunfire. Cunningham did not fire a weapon.

This investigation has been referred to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution.

ORIGINAL RELEASE

Bowman, GA (September 30, 2020) – On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the GBI was requested by the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) to investigate an officer involved shooting.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 3:51 a.m., a man called Elbert County 911, threatening to harm himself. Before the dispatcher could get any information or offer any assistance, the caller hung up the phone. ECSO was able to identify where the call was made from, which was within a cemetery located off Rehobath Road in Bowman. ECSO deputies arrived on scene at approximately 4:14 a.m. They made contact with the man they believed to be the caller located in the cemetery, inside of a pick-up truck. The man, identified as Mac J. Cunningham, 33, of Hartwell, GA, had a handgun and indicated to the deputies he intended to harm himself.

ECSO deputies attempted to offer Cunningham help and try to get him to surrender the gun. At approximately 5:27 a.m., ECSO deputies attempted to break the side window of the vehicle, at which point shots were fired. It is unknown at this time if Cunningham fired his weapon, however, one deputy fired multiple shots. Another ECSO deputy on scene was injured in the hand during the gunfire. Cunningham was not injured and taken into custody by ECSO. The deputy was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and was treated and released, pending further treatment.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once the investigation is completed, it will be turned over to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.