Gwinnett County Deputy Killed and Son Wounded in Forsyth County Domestic Shooting, Suspect in Monroe County Custody

An off-duty Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy was fatally shot during a domestic altercation in Forsyth County, authorities have confirmed. Officials say the deputy's teenage son, also injured in the incident, sought help from a neighbor and was subsequently hospitalized with gunshot wounds, as per the FOX 5 Atlanta report.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call at the Villages at Shakerag subdivision last Friday night after the juvenile escaped the tragic scene. Upon arriving at the home, authorities discovered the deceased woman in an upstairs bathroom, identified by the Atlanta News First as Tamara Bartlett, a mother of four boys. Neighbors disclosed that one of Bartlett's children had tragically died in a hit-and-run back in 2021.

Eric Sumner, 43, of Suwanee was named as the suspect. After fleeing the scene, Sumner led Monroe County deputies on a chase before he was apprehended, driving on Interstate 75. He now faces charges including homicide – murder and two counts of aggravated assault with intent to murder, and is currently held at Monroe County Jail awaiting transfer back to Forsyth County.

The Major Crimes Unit of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the domestic shooting. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released a formal statement. While the son’s condition has stabilized, details about the argument and the events that led to the violence remain limited.