At Phenix City motel, Russell County sheriff’s deputy shoots man wanted in AL and GA
A deputy-involved shooting at a Phenix City motel Thursday night left one suspect with injuries, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
Taylor said the shooting occurred around 11 p.m. Thursday at the Bamboo Motel in Phenix City.
The Russell County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office that Eric Lamar Person, 36, was staying in a room at the motel, according to Taylor. Person was wanted on multiple arrest warrants in Alabama and Georgia, he said.
Taylor said Person had an address on Colonial Drive in Columbus at one point.
Taylor said the RCSO’s Tac Team and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Tac Team executed a search warrant on Room 114 at the Bamboo Motel.
When the door was breached, Person stood up with a firearm in his hand, according to Taylor.
Taylor said a Russell County Sheriff’s deputy then fired approximately two rounds, with one striking Person in the forehead, causing an “in-and-out graze wound.”
Medics on the scene treated Person, who was taken to a local hospital where he was released Friday morning, Taylor said.
Taylorsaid, to his understanding, the Columbus Police Department executed warrants for Person after he was released from the hospital, and he was taken to the Muscogee County Jail.
“We had a tense few minutes,” Taylor said. “This is one of the things that is an obvious danger in this profession.”
Taylor said he was happy with how the SWAT team conducted themselves.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will conduct the investigation into the shooting, he said.
The deputy has been placed on paid leave, according to Taylor.
Taylor said the Person faces the following charges:
Alabama:
Felony fleeing and attempting to elude
Reckless endangerment
Possession of controlled substance (meth)
Drug paraphernalia
Certain persons forbidden to have a firearm.
Georgia:
Aggravated assault
Theft by taking (motor vehicle)
Obstruction of a police officer
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Taylor said Person also has a federal indictment through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for felon in possession of a firearm.
“This individual, Mr. Person, was certainly no stranger to firearms and the use of a firearm. That is why we used the SWAT teams to affect the arrest,” Taylor said.
Taylor said Shameka Johnson, 43, was also in the room at the time and charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Vehicle chase
Person was involved in a vehicle chase Wednesday with the RCSO, according to Taylor.
Taylor said the chase began in Alabama after the RCSO saw Person at a gas station.
Person evaded police after the chase went into Columbus, where the RCSO lost sight of him, according to Taylor.
This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 4:26 PM.