Police searching for suspect after Gwinnett DA’s office investigator shot in leg while driving

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — An investigator with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office was shot on Friday evening, police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News.

Police say the investigator called in and reported that he had been shot while driving down Auburn Road heading towards the City of Auburn just after 6 p.m.

Channel 2 Action News crews are on the scene working to learn more details. Get the latest updates on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.

The investigator, who has not been identified, drove himself to a gas station at Old Fountain Road and Jim Moore Road before calling for help.

The suspect was driving a silver SUV with rear passenger side damage.

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Police say the investigator was driving an unmarked vehicle, so it is unclear if the suspect knew he worked with the district attorney’s office or if it was a road rage incident.

The investigator had been shot in the leg and is currently hospitalized. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for an SUV similar to the suspect’s vehicle.

One witness said there were dozens of cars responding to the incident.

“There were probably 40 or 50 cop cars all over this intersection,” said Brad Pruitt.

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He said he saw the chaos.

“I was coming back from work and I was heading home down Old Fountain and I saw a bunch of cop cars passing and there was an ambulance that was pulling out of the gas station right here, with cops following it,” Pruitt told Channel 2′s Larry Spruill.

Discussing how events unfolded, a police spokeswoman said some details are still unclear and are under investigation. They said the investigator was approached by a driver in a silver SUV while he drove down Auburn Road.

“The driver of the Silver SUV began shooting at him. Fortunately, he was able to pull over to a gas station convenience store. That’s when he went over the radio and said he was shot,” said Sgt. Michele Pihera.

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Then shooter drove away. Police said the rear of the passenger side of the SUV was damaged. Right now, detectives are trying to figure out if the investigator was targeted.

“We’re still trying to investigate all of the motives. We don’t know if the shooter knew this was an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office or if this was a road rage incident. The District Attorney Investigator drives an unmarked SUV. So there weren’t no signs like a police car, that he was a member of the law enforcement community,” Pihera said.

Meanwhile, many are still in disbelief.

“Just tragic. You don’t want to see that with anybody, law enforcement or not. You just don’t want to see that happen, especially in our area,” said Pruitt.

Police are working to find the shooter.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Couple accused of abusing 4-month-old in custody months after ditching their car in Cobb County Brandon Augustine and Mildred Chestnut were wanted on felony child abuse charges out of North Carolina back in March.

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