GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Sylvester, GA

Sylvester, Worth County, GA (December 7, 2023) – The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Sylvester, Worth County, Georgia. The Sylvester Police Department asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation on December 4, 2023. No one was injured during the incident. 

The preliminary information indicates that on December 4, 2023, at about 3:00 p.m., a Sylvester Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a person, later identified as Jaylen Walker, age 20, of Sylvester, GA, driving a Hyundai Elantra that was reported stolen in Sylvester. Walker did not stop, and the officer shot at the car. Walker was not hit and left the scene traveling on Carter Road. While trying to escape, Walker crashed the Hyundai into a retention pond near Carter Road. Walker was taken into custody with charges pending by the Georgia State Patrol and the Sylvester Police Department. Georgia State Patrol is conducting a traffic investigation.  

Walker was taken to the Dougherty County Jail. 

This investigation is active and ongoing. Once complete, it will be turned over to the Tift County Judicial Circuit for review.