GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Pickens County
News, Press Release February 9, 2021
Jasper, Georgia (February 9, 2021) – On Monday, February 8, 2021, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an officer involved shooting investigation.
The investigation indicates that at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Pickens County 911 Center received a request for a welfare check on a man that was expressing suicidal thoughts at a residence on Dianne Street. The man was reportedly armed with a replica gun and expressed a desire to die at the hands of law enforcement. The man was identified as Chris Childers, 46, of Jasper, Georgia.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence to check on Childers, when they encountered Childers armed with a gun. Repeated verbal commands were given to Childers to drop the weapon. Childers put the gun down and then picked the gun up again, at which time he was shot by the responding deputy. The deputy and an additional responding deputy rendered aid until EMS could arrive. Childers was ultimately transported to an area hospital for treatment. The GBI determined that the weapon Childers was armed with was a PFM16 CO2 powered BB pistol, which has the appearance of a standard firearm.
Once the GBI investigation is complete, the case will be provided to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
This is the 7th officer involved shooting that the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2021.
GBI investigating officer-involved shooting in Pickens
News September 19, 2020
Talking Rock, Georgia (September 20, 2020) – On Saturday, September 19, 2020, at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an officer-involved shooting investigation.
The investigation revealed that at approximately 11 a.m., the Pickens County 911 Center received a trespass call at a residence in Talking Rock, Georgia. The subject was identified by the 911 caller as Derek Cooper, 52, of Acworth, Georgia. The caller indicated there was a restraining order against Cooper and that Cooper attempted to kill his wife during a domestic incident this week. Cooper was in fact out on bond for the domestic violence incident with conditions of no contact with his wife and children. The wife, children and another family member were hiding inside the residence.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence to find Cooper in the back yard. A deputy gave Cooper verbal commands at which time Cooper brandished a firearm and fired at the deputy. Cooper then attempted to make entry into the residence by force and armed with a gun. The deputy fired at Cooper, striking him. Lifesaving measures were performed on Cooper by deputies until Pickens County Fire Services arrived to take over his care. Cooper was transported to an area hospital for treatment where he died as a result of his injuries. The autopsy with the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office is pending.
The involved officer was not injured in this incident.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be provided to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
This is the 70th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2020. The GBI has been requested to investigate a total of 71 OIS’s in 2020.
Original Article from 9/19/2020 below:
During the shooting, the suspect was struck and has been transported to a local hospital. The deputy was not injured.
PCSO isn’t releasing any additional details at this time.