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Covington man seriously injured after pointing gun at deputies early Saturday morning
Police Lights
Evan Newton
Published: Aug 24, 2024, 5:11 PM

NEWTON COUNTY – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating a standoff between an armed man and Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) deputies that led to the man being seriously injured.

According to a news release from the NCSO, officers responded to a safety call in the area of Barshay Drive in Covington at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning. That is when deputies encountered John Cortez Biles, 34, of Covington.

Biles, who had multiple active warrants, reportedly exited the backdoor of the home upon the deputies arrival. He then produced a handgun, pointing it at one of the deputies.

Deputies then opened fire, wounding Biles. He was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for “major injuries,” according to the NCSO press release. It is not clear what charges Biles may face at this time.

No officers were injured during the encounter.

The case has been turned over to the GBI.

“The GBI will continue to conduct an independent investigation,” per a GBI news release. “Once the investigation is done, it will be given to the Newton County District Attorney’s office for review.”
Newton County jury finds Covington man guilty of felony murder
Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson - photo by Courtesy of the Newton County Sheriff's Office
Kate Verity
Published: Mar 31, 2025, 9:15 PM

NEWTON COUNTY – On Monday afternoon, 30-year-old Shane Alexander Robinson of Covington was found guilty of killing Charles Edward Stanley III over three years ago.

The Newton County District Attorney’s Office released that a jury deemed that Robinson was guilty on three charges: Felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

On March 5, 2022, sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight, Robinson shot an AR-style firearm at a vehicle that Stanley was driving along Harvey Wood Drive. According to the District Attorney’s release, Robinson fired the weapon 13 times into the vehicle, killing Stanley.

According to a previous report by The Covington News, an arrest warrant stated that Robinson “grabbed his AR-15 (rifle) and drove” from his home to Harvey Wood Drive to “scare” Stanley.

“When Charles was backing up, Shane admitted to firing several rounds at the vehicle,” the 2022 warrant stated. “Furthermore, Shane also initially stated that he fired rounds at the vehicle as it was driving away.”

Robinson initially faced charges of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, unauthorized discharge of firearms within 50 yards of the public highway, and reckless conduct. It is not clear if some of these charges were dismissed.

Sentencing is set for a later date, which has not been announced. A co-defendant’s case is still pending.