Dashcam video released of gun battle between Rockdale Co. deputy, shooting suspect

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office has released dashcam video of one of its deputies engaging the man who shot and killed two people at a liquor store.

The video is from May 31 when deputies were called to a home on Ebenezer Road in reference to a person shot.

After deputies arrived, gunfire was exchanged between one of the deputies and 36-year-old Jeffrey Pitts, authorities say.

The medical examiner says Pitts died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Deputies say Pitts shot and killed two people hours earlier at the Magnet Bottle Shop on Bell Road. He also shot his parents, but they survived.

The dash camera video shows the gun battle between Pitts and a county deputy.

It happened about an hour after the store shooting spree. Pitts came home and shot his parents.

The video shows his wounded father staggering out of the home and speaking to a deputy.

Father: "That's my son. He shot me."
Deputy: "He shot you?"
Father: "He shot my wife."
Deputy: "Don't move."

Authorities say Pitts was armed with an assault weapon.

"He was armored with a ballistic vest. And inside of that vest, it appears he had some weights," said Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett.

His father, who didn't wish to be interviewed on camera Friday, told Channel 2's Tom Regan he expresses his deepest sympathy for the victim's families.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Jimquez Aikens, the customer who was killed inside the liquor store.

"It's just hard to believe something like that happened," said Renee Bennett. "'My heart goes out to the family and we want them to know we are all praying for you."

"Everyone had so many nice words to say about him. It's just really a tragedy. Our hearts go out to the family," said Tanahhia Benton.

The GBI continues to investigate the shooting.

WSBTV