December 11, 2018
GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Calhoun, GA
Calhoun, Georgia (December 11, 2018) – On Tuesday, December 11, 2018, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Calhoun Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred at the BP Station on 312 South Wall Street, Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 3:00 PM, two female occupants of a vehicle were located at the BP Station. Calhoun Officer Jeremy Thompson encountered a female subject (driver) at the BP station. The female was slightly short on change in making a purchase. Officer Thompson provided the remaining change to complete the transaction and they both exited the store. Officer Thompson smelled an odor that was suspected to be marijuana and encountered Tameka LaShay Simpson (passenger), age 27, of Columbus, GA. At that point, Officer Thompson called in a suspicious vehicle. Officer Joe Yother arrived on scene as back up. Officer Thompson asked for identification. During the encounter, Simpson pulls out a firearm and begins firing shots which strike Officer Yother. Officers returned fire, striking and killing Simpson.
Officer Yother was struck in the arm. The projectile impacted his cell phone in his chest pocket. He was transported to an area hospital where he was treated and kept for observation.
The female driver was taken into custody on unrelated charges.
An autopsy will be performed at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Cherokee Judicial Circuit for review.