The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has announced that it is actively conducting an investigation into the death of a 35-year-old Tennessee man following a series of violent events that unfolded in Georgia. The individual, identified as Robert Smith of Cookeville, TN, was wanted for aggravated assault out of Nashville, TN, and was intercepted in Whitfield County after a tense police pursuit.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation press release, Smith's encounters with law enforcement quickly escalated on Wednesday, when he drove to metro Atlanta, abandoned his vehicle, and was later transported back North. A convenience store stop turned dire when Smith, left outside, fired a weapon at responding officers. Smith proceeded to forcefully carjack a customer. He then initiated to lead authorities on a high-speed chase along I-75.
Officer engagement intensified as the Calhoun Police Department issued a Be-On-The-Lookout (BOLO) for the stolen car. Whitfield County Sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle and attempted to bring Smith to a stop, only to be met with gunfire from the fleeing suspect. The situation reached its tragic resolution when Smith shot himself and crashed the car he had commandeered.
Smith was declared dead at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's press statement confirmed that "No officers fired any shots during the incident." An autopsy is to be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office. Meanwhile, with the investigation ongoing, the GBI is calling for anyone with further information to step forward. Tips can be anonymously submitted through various methods, including a hotline at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), an online portal, or via the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Upon completion, findings from the GBI investigation will be handed over to the Whitfield County District Attorney’s Office for a thorough review. Members of the public who have information related to this case are encouraged to contribute to the GBI's effort to collect evidence and witness accounts.
