A call about a man threatening to hurt himself in rural Oconee County ended in gunfire Thursday evening, when a sheriff's deputy shot and killed the man after authorities say he confronted them with a knife.
Deputies were sent to a home off Friar Road, just outside Watkinsville, shortly before 7:30 p.m. after reports that the man had already stabbed himself and was threatening to do more harm. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he was pronounced dead.
What authorities say
According to the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the Friar Road address after getting word that a man had stabbed himself and was threatening additional self-harm. When deputies arrived, the man pointed a weapon, described as a knife, at them. A deputy fired, and the man died at the scene, as reported by Atlanta News First.
GBI to lead probe
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation typically handles independent reviews of officer-involved shootings across the state and keeps a public tally of 2026 cases. The agency usually steps in at the request of local law enforcement, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Once the GBI completes its work, the case file is generally turned over to the local district attorney for review.
Local history
Deadly encounters with deputies are not entirely new to Oconee County residents. In 2020, deputies shot and killed a woman after a 17-minute confrontation, and body camera footage from that incident was later released, according to WUGA.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to reach trained crisis counselors 24/7.
