Press Releases: 2021

Sandy Springs, GA (November 19, 2021) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an officer involved shooting investigation in Sandy Springs. On Friday, November 19, 2021, the Sandy Springs Police Department (SSPD) asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate an officer involved shooting in the area of Cameron Glen Drive in Sandy Springs, GA that resulted in the shooting of Matthew Lanz, 22, of Cobb County.

Byron, GA (November 18, 2021) – The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Byron, Crawford County, GA. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 5:55 p.m. Kevin Mark Soles, Jr. died in the incident. No officers were injured.

Millen, GA (November 17, 2021) – On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the GBI arrested and charged Teresa Kim Mobley, 53, of Millen, GA, with one count of Murder, in connection to the death of Kenith Scott, in Millen, Jenkins County, GA. Scott, 52, was found stabbed to death his apartment on June 2, 2015.

LaGrange, GA (November 17, 2021) – The GBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting in LaGrange, GA.  The LaGrange Police Department asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 8:00 A.M.  One person died in the incident.

The preliminary information indicates that on Monday, November 15, 2021, LaGrange Police Department officers responded to 118 Sunny Point Circle to conduct a welfare check on Brian Jessee, age 39, and his two children.  After an initial investigation, the two children were removed from the home.  Later, Jessee threatened a LaGrange police officer which led to police obtaining felony arrest warrants on Jessee for the threats. 

Sylvester, GA (November 16, 2021) – On Monday, November 15, 2021, the GBI arrested Worth County Chief Deputy Raymond Drennen, age 60, and charged him with one count of Violation of Oath by Public Officer, one count of Terroristic Threats and Acts, and one count of Cruelty to Children in the 3rd Degree.  Worth County Sheriff Don Whittaker asked the GBI to investigate a domestic incident that happened at Drennen’s home.  Sheriff Whittaker made the request earlier in the day.

Drennen was taken to the Worth County Jail.  This criminal investigation is active and ongoing.  Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080.   

On Monday, November 15, 2021, the GBI arrested Steve Macallin Thomas, 22, of Garfield, GA.  Thomas is charged with two counts of Sexual Exploitation and two counts of Sexual Battery. These charges stem from a GBI investigation at the request of the Candler County Sheriff’s Office.  The victims that have been identified so far were children under the age of 15 at the time of the incidents.

Thomas is a former Youth Pastor at the Restoration Worship Center in Metter, GA.  He turned himself in to the Candler County Jail on Monday evening.

This criminal investigation is active and ongoing.  Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Statesboro at 912-871-1121.  Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

UPDATE:

Clayton County, GA (November 10, 2021) - The Blue Alert issued for Jordan Jackson is cancelled. Jackson was found deceased in Clayton County, GA on the evening of Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Henry County, GA (November 5, 2021) - The GBI has issued a Blue Alert for Jordan Jackson, 22, of McDonough, GA.  A Blue Alert is a public safety alert that is issued when a suspect has killed or seriously injured an officer and has not been apprehended.  The suspect may be a serious threat to the public.  This alert was issued Thursday night at 8:21 pm.

Anyone with information about Jackson’s location is asked to call the Henry County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 770-957-9121 or call 911.  Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

11/7/2021 Update

The deceased woman has been identified as Jessica Worsham, age 43, of Hoschton, GA.

ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE

Jackson County, GA (November 6, 2021) - The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting that happened in Jackson County, GA.  One woman has died in the incident.  One Jackson County deputy is critically injured.  The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting incident. 

On Friday, November 5, 2021, at around 9:20 p.m., Jackson County Sheriff‘s Office deputies responded to a 911 call from a residence located at 6416 GA Hwy 124 in Hoschton, GA.  The call was about a domestic situation where the homeowners wanted a non-resident out of the home.  When deputies arrived at that location, they made contact with a woman at the front door of the residence. The woman pulled out a firearm and pointed it towards the deputies.  The deputies gave verbal commands for the woman to drop the weapon. The woman opened fire on the deputies.  One of the deputies was hit and injured.  The other deputy returned fire, hitting the woman and killing her.  The injured deputy was taken to a local trauma center where she remains in critical condition.  

Covington, GA (November 4, 2021) - The GBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened in Covington, GA.  One man has died in the incident.  The Covington Police Department asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting incident. 

The preliminary information indicates that at around 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, the Newton County 911 Center received a call about a domestic violence incident at 8189 Spillers Road, Covington, Georgia.   Covington Police Department officers responded and made contact with a woman who lives at the residence.  Officers learned that Johnny Michael Gilbert, age 43, left the residence just before officers arrived.  After speaking with the woman and ensuring that she did not need medical care, the officers advised her to call 911 if Gilbert returned.  The 911 center received a second call at 10:26 p.m. stating that Gilbert had returned and was violent.  Officers responded again and met Gilbert outside the residence.  As officers were attempting to detain Gilbert, he began to violently resist.  One of the officers fired a Taser at Gilbert, but it was ineffective.  As officers struggled with Gilbert, he took an officer’s Taser and began to rise to his feet.  This prompted one of the officers to fire a handgun at Gilbert, hitting him at least once.  Gilbert was treated at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital where he later died.  

Smyrna, GA (November 3, 2021) – On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the GBI was requested by the Cobb County Police Department (CCPD) to investigate an officer involved shooting. The CCPD Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit was conducting a child trafficking investigation that led them to the possible location of a victim at the Red Roof Inn, 1190 Winchester Parkway in Smyrna, Cobb County, GA. At approximately 7:00 p.m., investigators were located outside of a hotel room at the Red Roof Inn. Investigators knocked on the door and a young female opened the door. Inside the room were two young females with Atwon White, age 29, of Williamson, GA. When White saw the investigators, he pointed a handgun at the officers and ran out the room and into the parking lot. In the parking lot, he pointed the handgun at a uniformed CCPD officer, at which time, the officer shot White once with his issued rifle. White was treated on the scene and transported to Kennesaw Hospital. White is reported to be in critical condition, but is expected to survive.