GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Montgomery County 

Ailey, Georgia (October 2, 2023) – The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Ailey, Montgomery County, Georgia. On Sunday, October 1, 2023, at about 11:10 p.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate. One man was shot and later died. No officers were injured.  

The preliminary investigation indicates that on October 1, 2023, at about 6:00 p.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a call stating that Donald Bonner Jr., age 45, of Ailey, GA, was in his yard at 825 Old Ailey-Lothair Road, Ailey, GA, firing random shots. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to negotiate with Bonner, and he made threats to kill law enforcement. Negotiations ended as Bonner went back into his house and did not continue further conversations. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office established a perimeter and waited on the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) SWAT team to assist Montgomery County S.O. with safely serving arrest warrants on Bonner.  

Once GSP SWAT arrived, GSP Aviation spotted a person behind the house with a gun. Before negotiations began between Bonner and GSP SWAT, Bonner was shot once. Bonner received medical aid on scene, and Bonner was taken to the Memorial Health Meadows Hospital, where he later died. 

Bonner was wanted on outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer from an incident in March of 2023 in which Bonner fired shots in the presence of Montgomery County S.O. deputies. Following this incident, law enforcement decided to wait and attempt to arrest Bonner when he was away from his house. Those arrest warrants were not served at that time. 

The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Once complete, it will be given to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.