Deputy involved shooting following a chase

PRESS RELEASE – On March 23, 2024, at 3:59 AM, the Haralson E-911 Dispatch was notified of a high-speed pursuit east bound on I-20 that had started close to Birmingham, Alabama and may possibly come into Georgia.

Haralson County Deputies set up at the Georgia state line on I-20 and were advised that the driver had an AR-15 rifle and had already fired on Law Enforcement.

HCSO deputies were also advised that the vehicle had hit spike strips in Cleburne County but was still going.

When the pursuit crossed over into Georgia, Haralson County deputies took over the pursuit as the primary agency.

As agencies were preparing to conduct a PIT maneuver on the vehicle, it spun out at mile marker three due to the damage from the spike strips.

When the vehicle came to a stop, the driver of the car, later identified as Marcus Eaddy, opened his door, and opened fire on deputies and other officers, who returned fire.

No Law Enforcement officers were injured during this incident, although several patrol units from various agencies were struck by gunfire from the offender.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations was called to the scene to work the officer involved shooting. The GBI is the lead agency in this investigation so all other inquiries must go to them.

Per the Georgia Bureau of Investigations press release, Marcus Andrew Eaddy is a 29-year-old male from Lithonia Georgia.

The pursuit began in Vestavia Hills, Alabama (Birmingham area) when officers responded to a call of a male shooting an AR style weapon and located Mr. Eaddy around the area of the shooting.

Per the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office in AL Facebook release, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office was advised and took over a chase coming out of Jefferson County AL where an AR style weapon was used.

St. Clair Sheriff’s Deputies in the pursuit were fired on by the driver of the vehicle being pursued and did return gunfire. Eaddy’s vehicle was traveling at extremely high speeds as the chase continued east on I-20.

After hitting spike strips in Cleburne County AL, the suspect continued into Georgia where he again engaged Law Enforcement with gunfire at the three-mile marker after his vehicle became disabled.

Eaddy was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

“This was a dangerous pursuit that could have ended very differently,” states Sheriff Stacy Williams. “To discharge a rifle on a major interstate with no regard for who gets hit is an unconscionable act. I am thankful that no one, law enforcement officers or civilians, was injured by the reckless actions of the offender during this 90 plus mile pursuit. The safety of our community is our top priority, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure that incidents like these are swiftly and effectively handled to protect the lives of everyone involved.”