Suspect in custody after shooting Lee County deputy during traffic stop, sheriff says
A Lee County Sheriff’s deputy is in “good spirits” after being shot during an early morning traffic stop, authorities said.
Around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the deputy initiated a traffic stop involving a motorcycle in the 700 block of Lee County Road 121 in Beauregard community of Lee County, Alabama, Sheriff Jay Jones said during a press conference.
The driver, John “Squirrel” Cross, 42, of Lee County, then pulled out a gun and fired at the deputy, Jones said. Gunfire was exchanged, injuring the deputy. Cross then crashed the vehicle before fleeing the scene on foot.
The 33-year-old deputy was transported by EMS to a Columbus hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. He is in stable condition, Jones said.
Cross was located by officers in a wooded area near the scene of the incident, and is also receiving treatment at a Columbus hospital for injuries sustained during the incident.
“We will coordinate his extradition back to Alabama with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department once he is cleared to leave,” Jones said.
The Opelika Police Department will lead the investigation into the incident. Once extradited, Cross will be held in a neighboring county’s jail pending trial, according to a news release from OPD. He has been charged with attempted murder in the incident.
The LCSO deputy was not wearing a body camera at the time of the incident. Jones said his office has not issued body cameras to deputies due to cost.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story reported that Phenix City Elementary and Intermediate Schools were placed on a soft lockdown in relation to this incident. The lockdown was put in place because of a separate shooting in Phenix City, said superintendent Randy Wilkes.
This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 3:28 PM.
