Muscogee County deputies shot suspect after he hit officer with car, GBI investigating
A suspect Muscogee Sheriff’s investigators shot at least three times after he hit an officer with his car while trying to flee was in stable condition after surgery Tuesday, authorities said.
In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Donna Tompkins said Christopher O’Brien Lawrence, 30, was shot in the leg, arm and shoulder Monday night at The Hills apartments, 3528 Gentian Boulevard, where officers in a drug investigation had him under surveillance.
“He did have surgery to remove the bullets, but at this time as far as we know, he is in stable condition and back in a room,” the sheriff said. Lawrence is to remain under guard until his release from the hospital.
The deputy hit by the Toyota, Investigator David Williamson, was treated and released, but remains on leave as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation probes the shooting. Williamson was one of three officers who fired at Lawrence, the sheriff’s office said.
The GBI in a news release Tuesday said drug investigators started the stakeout on Lawrence at 5 p.m. Monday. Tompkins said the shooting happened around 11:30 p.m., as the suspected drug courier came out of an apartment and got into a white Toyota Camry that investigators immediately surrounded, trying to arrest him on outstanding warrants.
Lawrence hit Williamson trying to speed away, prompting the gunfire and a brief car chase in the apartments parking lot before he crashed into another law enforcement agency’s vehicle that was used to block his path, the sheriff said.
The agencies involved in the regional drug investigation included the Harris County, Ga., and Lee County, Ala., sheriff’s offices, she said.
Officers gave Lawrence first aid before he was taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional to be treated for his wounds.
Tompkins said Lawrence’s criminal history and outstanding warrants indicate he has been involved in transporting heroin.
When the GBI concludes its investigation into the shooting, it will send its report to Julia Slater, district attorney for the six-county Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit that includes Columbus. Slater has the option of submitting the case to a grand jury, should evidence indicate any violation of law on the part of sheriff’s investigators.
Tompkins said Williamson and the other two investigators involved in the shooting will remain on leave as the GBI probe proceeds, though that will strain staffing for her office. She anticipates returning them to duty if the GBI report finds they did nothing wrong.
Tompkins requested the GBI investigation at 12:18 a.m. Tuesday.
Tompkins said the sheriff’s office has warrants charging Lawrence with aggravated assault on a police officer, felony obstruction of a police officer, trafficking in drugs, possessing controlled substances, and three probation violations.
She said Columbus police have warrants charging Lawrence with interferring with government property, felony police obstruction, violating the federal firearms act, damaging property, breaking into an automobile, attempting to commit a felony and two misdemeanors.
Lawrence is wanted in the state of Kansas for distributing heroin, distributing cocaine and other charges, the sheriff said.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 1:06 PM.