A Monticello resident reportedly shot and killed himself Wednesday night after he was pulled over by a Jasper County Sheriff's deputy in Newton County.
David Kiker, 40, reportedly shot himself with a high-powered rifle which caused extensive damage, said GBI Public Affairs Officer John Bankhead.
The Jasper County Sheriff's Office was called by Kiker's wife earlier in the evening for a domestic dispute and deputies were told to be on the lookout for Kiker. Later that night a JCSO deputy identified Kiker's truck traveling down Ga. Highway 142 at approximately 45 miles per hour. The deputy reportedly attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Kiker continued driving. The JCSO deputy continued to follow the suspect into Newton County, Bankhead said, where Kiker pulled the truck over near Newborn Fertilizer Company.
The JCSO deputy exited his vehicle to approach Kiker's truck when he heard a loud boom. The deputy then reentered his patrol cruiser and called for back up.
Kiker's truck then began to roll downhill before smashing into a post and coming to a complete stop. Deputies were then able to enter the truck where they found Kiker dead of an apparent self-inflected gunshot wound to the head. The rifle was also located beside Kiker.
Bankhead said the case is still under investigation by the GBI, which is common for such cases in Newton and Jasper counties.
"We'll do a thorough investigation," Bankhead said, which will include possible drug or alcohol use by Kiker as well as his criminal history.