Last Saturday morning in Newnan, Georgia, a confrontation between Sonny Francis Conto, a New Jersey man, and local police resulted in gunfire; this came after officers responded to what began as a benign 911 hang-up call. Conto, who sustained a gunshot wound to the arm, and an officer who also incurred non-life-threatening injuries were entangled in a scuffle that escalated rapidly, necessitating hospital treatment for both, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The incident, which took place on Bullsboro Drive, entered its critical phase when officers, having arrived on the scene, instructed the agitated Conto to disembark from a semi-truck which he had ascended, but instead of complying Conto began a struggle during which he called for his dog and reached for an officer's gun, the dog got loose, moving towards the chaos unfolding. Authorities have disclosed that a second officer, in witness to the fracas and in perceived need to act, intervened with the use of their service weapon to halt Conto's resistance, striking him and thus ending the immediate threat before Conto attempted an ill-fated escape.
The Newnan Police Department, adhering to standard protocol in such grave instances, has deferred the investigation to the GBI, which will dissect the incident in all of its complexity before referring its findings to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney for examination. Meanwhile, Conto, after his discharge from Grady Memorial Hospital, will answer to charges that include obstruction and attempted removal of a firearm from a public official. He is set to face the judicial proceedings from within the confines of the Coweta County Jail, as detailed by the GBI.
As the investigation by the GBI is active and ongoing, they are urging the public for any information pertinent to the case, offering multiple avenues for contact, including a regional phone number, an online tip submission form, and a specialized mobile application for anonymous tips.
