A Georgia sheriff says all four suspects wanted in connection with the killing of a sheriff’s deputy have now been apprehended.
An intense search had been ongoing much of July 8 until mid-afternoon, when the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said all suspects were in custody.
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said one of the four—19-year-old Hector Garcia Solis—is suspected of firing the shot that killed Deputy Nicolas Dixon late Sunday night in Gainesville.
The Hall Co. Sheriff’s office tells us this is Hector Garcia-Solis. He faces a felony murder charge for Deputy Nicolas Dixon’s death. A sheriff’s office spokesman tells us Garcia-Solis was released from the Hall County Jail on July 2nd following a DUI and obstructing an officer. pic.twitter.com/ja2rj9fgpf
— Joe Henke (@JoeHenke) July 8, 2019
Authorities said Dixon was among several deputies who tried to stop a stolen vehicle, and the four occupants got out and ran from the officers shortly before the shooting happened.
Crouch said 28-year-old Dixon left behind a wife and two young children. He had been with the department for three years.
The Hall County sheriff’s deputy killed in a shootout late Sunday night has been identified as Nicolas Dixon. He has been with the department for three years. The 28-year-old was married and had two young children. pic.twitter.com/WkBtEzc3a6
— WGAUradio (@WGAUradio) July 8, 2019
A spokesperson from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Nelly Miles, said this shooting is the 42nd officer-involved shooting that the bureau has contacted to help investigate this year.
The bureau said in a statement that it was responding to the officer-involved shooting and was “working to gather details.”
DEADLY POLICE SHOOTING INVESTIGATION underway by @GBI_GA in Hall County.
This is where running gunfight happened on Highland Ave late Sunday.
The suspects pursued by deputies are believed to be behind crimes over the weekend where guns were stolen. pic.twitter.com/FSo8Piub1M
— Kaitlyn Pratt (@Fox5Kaitlyn) July 8, 2019
The stolen car was connected to a string of burglaries and car break-ins, Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derreck Booth told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Several guns were stolen during the break-ins, authorities said.
This is the 42nd OIS that the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2019. https://t.co/Cmax225bT2
— Nelly Miles (@NMilesGBIPIO) July 8, 2019
Departments React
A number of police departments and sheriff’s offices around Georgia reacted to the news of the fallen deputy.
“It is with a heavy heart that we inform our readers that a Hall County Deputy was shot and killed last night. We are asking for prayers for the family and our neighbor agency,” the Banks County Sheriff’s Office stated.
“Bless Sheriff Couch, our brothers and sisters with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, and the deputy’s family. Another law enforcement officer has paid the ultimate price. Our prayers are with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office family,” added the Douglas, GA, Police Department.
“Please keep the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the family of the fallen officer in your thoughts and prayers!” added the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The Associated Press and NTD reporter Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
