Commerce/Atlanta, Ga. – Two additional arrests were made as a result of the investigation into the shooting of a Banks County Deputy. Dustin Terrell Heuatt, age 29, was charged with numerous felony charges to include aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. James Hall Askew, age 26, was charged with aiding and abetting.
The suspect in the shooting of a Banks County deputy sheriff was killed during his attempted arrest by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. Avery Richard, 32, was wanted for shooting the deputy earlier in the week. On Friday, April 28, 2017, at approximately 4:00 p.m., FBI agents tracked Richard to the Holmes Plaza parking lot located at 2457 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta. Richard was sitting inside a vehicle when he shot at FBI agents as they tried to take him into custody. One agent, a 30-year veteran, was struck in the arm during the shooting and a female passenger, who was in the vehicle with Richard, also received gunshot wounds. Both the agent and the female were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Banks County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an aggravated assault on one of their officers. At approximately 4:10 p.m., Banks County deputies responded to a reported robbery at the Atlanta Dragway located at 500 E. Ridgeway Road in Commerce. The suspect, later identified as Richard, had stolen a vehicle at gunpoint. Banks County deputies attempted to stop the stolen vehicle near the Tanger Outlet Center when Richard fired multiple times at officers before fleeing on foot across I-85. A Banks County deputy was struck by a round, but the bullet was stopped by his ballistic vest. The deputy was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Several hours after the Banks County deputy shooting, a female resident of Commerce arrived home to find a suspect matching Richard’s description inside her residence. The house was located approximately two miles from where the deputy was shot. The female was forced at gunpoint to drive Richard to the metro Atlanta area before she was released. The kidnapping victim sustained minor injuries.
Cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies was crucial during the investigation. The following agencies listed in alphabetical order assisted in the case:
Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office
Athens-Clarke County Police Department
Atlanta Police Department
Banks County Sheriff’s Office
Barrow County Sheriff’s Office
Braselton Police Department
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Gainesville Police Department
Georgia Bureau of Investigation – Athens, Cleveland, Conyers, Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC), Social Security Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Unit
Georgia State Patrol
Habersham County Sheriff’s Office
Hall County Sheriff’s Office
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Oconee County Sheriff’s Office
Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office
Stephens County Sheriff’s Office
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COMMERCE, Ga. – The suspect in the shooting of a Banks County Deputy Sheriff may now be in the Atlanta area.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Banks County Sheriff’s Office are presently investigating a kidnapping that occurred within hours of the deputy’s shooting.
A female resident of Commerce arrived home to find a suspect matching the shooter's description inside her residence. The house is located approximately two miles from where the deputy was shot. The female was forced at gunpoint to drive the suspect to the metro Atlanta area before she was released. The kidnapping victim sustained minor injuries. Investigators are working to determine the exact time and location of the suspect arriving in the Atlanta area.
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 30-40 years old and was last seen wearing black clothing. During the kidnapping incident, the suspect took a burgundy in color “Ingles” grocery store pullover shirt.
The GBI and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the identity and capture of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Tip-line at 1-800-597-8477, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 706-367-3784 or the Banks County Sheriff’s Office at 706-677-2248.
Preliminary information from the Banks County Sheriff’s Office indicates that at approximately 4:10 p.m., Banks County Deputies responded to a reported robbery at the Atlanta Dragway located at 500 E. Ridgeway Road in Commerce. The suspect, described as an approximately 40-year-old black male dressed in black, reportedly stole a vehicle. Banks County Deputies attempted to stop the stolen vehicle in the area of the Tanger Outlet Center located at 800 Steven B. Tanger Blvd, also in Commerce. The suspect exited the stolen vehicle and fired multiple times at deputies before fleeing across I-85. A Banks County Deputy was struck by a round, but the bullet was stopped by his ballistic vest. The deputy was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Agencies from throughout Northeast Georgia are participating in the search for the suspect. SWAT teams from both the Georgia State Patrol and Hall County Sheriff’s Office are also on scene.
Anyone who comes in contact with the suspect should immediately call 911.
