GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Winterville, GA

Winterville, Clarke County, GA (November 1, 2026) - At the request of the Winterville Police Department (WPD), GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Winterville, GA. No one was injured in the officer involved shooting incident. One man and one woman sustained minor injuries related to a crash following the incident.

Preliminary information indicates that, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m., an Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officer was located in the 100 block of Oakmont Court, in Winterville, GA, to conduct a traffic stop on a black SUV. The SUV was driven by a man, later identified as Derrell Dukes, age 33, of Athens, GA. The traffic stop was conducted by ACCPD in connection to multiple outstanding arrest warrants for Dukes in Athens-Clarke County. Peyton Ragland, age 28, of Summerville, GA, and another woman were located in the SUV with Dukes at the time of the stop.

Shortly after Dukes came to a stop, a WPD officer arrived on scene to assist the ACCPD officer. Ragland immediately exited the rear passenger side of the SUV after the traffic stop was initiated. One of the officers then gave verbal commands for Dukes to exit the front driver’s side of the SUV. Dukes opened the SUV door, but then abruptly closed the door and proceeded to drive away from the area. The other woman in the SUV complied with the officers and remained in the front passenger side of the vehicle prior to Dukes leaving the scene. As Dukes drove away, one of the officers shot once toward the SUV. Dukes continued to drive away from the scene, initiating a pursuit. The SUV subsequently crashed in the 3000 block of Spratlin Mill Road, in Hull, Madison County, GA. Dukes and the woman in the SUV were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries sustained during the crash and later released.

Dukes and Ragland were booked into the Clarke County Jail on outstanding arrest warrants unrelated to this incident.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Athens at 706-542-7901. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile application.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be turned over to the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review.