The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is currently delving into an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Lavonia. During the incident, which happened on Thursday, a 22-year-old man named Ty'Ravis Lee Simpson from Lavonia was critically injured but no law enforcement personnel sustained injuries, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's official release. Simpson is facing multiple charges, including two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and remains hospitalized at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville awaiting booking following recovery.
The triggering event, which took place at around 12:35 p.m. on Beaver Dam Circle, began when Lavonia Police Department officers responded to reports of a separate shooting. There, a male victim was reportedly shot by two unknown assailants before they fled the scene, sparking a manhunt by local authorities and the GBI. The injured victim was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment, yet the two initial suspects remain at large. Simpson, involved in the subsequent shootout with the officers, was not linked to this earlier incident, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation release clarified.
As police continued their search, they entered a trailer at the 100 block of Midway Ave. It was here that they encountered Simpson, who was reportedly armed with a handgun. Upon facing the officers, Simpson is said to have pointed the firearm at them. In response, one officer discharged their weapon several times, striking Simpson at least once. This prompted the call for an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
Following the conclusion of their investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will turn over the case files to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review. The determination of whether any procedural failures or criminal actions took place during the shooting will be at the discretion of the District Attorney. Until then, details remain scarce, and the health status of Simpson is not disclosed beyond his continued hospitalization.
