GORDON COUNTY, Ga. — After several days on the run, wanted Texas fugitive Dalton Potter is now in custody. The 29-year-old is accused of shooting a Georgia deputy in Whitfield County. That sparked a 72-hour manhunt for the suspect.
Stay with Channel 2 Action News for updates on what’s next for the suspect in this massive manhunt
Here’s the timeline of how authorities captured Dalton:
Wednesday 5 p.m.: Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood said authorities received a “shots fired” call that a person had been shot in Gordon County, which was the first confirmed sighting of Potter. The victim was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
The victim’s son told Channel 2 Action News that Potter shot his dad multiple times.
“He heard a loud bang and he fell, went down, turned around and Dalton was standing over him and he fell to the ground he said Dalton picked up his gun and aimed it right down toward dad and shot him a second time, then dad reached around and grabbed his 40 caliber, and shot Dalton, Dalton said, ‘No, no no,’ Dalton shot again and grazed my dad’s head.”
Chitwood said Potter then ran off and made contact with a second neighbor in the area. After a short exchange, the suspect then went off to the woods.
5:30 p.m.: Chitwood said more than 100 officers from all over north Georgia, including K-9s and a GSP helicopter, swarmed Carbondale Road and West Nance Springs Road along the Whitfield/Gordon County line and set up a perimeter.
Officers for local and state agencies searched the wooded area for hours.
10:45 p.m.: Chitwood said deputies walked up on Potter in the woods inside Gordon County as they were getting batteries and then took him into custody.
“Officers basically just walked up on him that were coming out to refresh their batteries and literally just jumped right there on the spot,” Chitwood said.
Potter was checked out by EMTs for minor injuries.
“We are very, very, very pleased that it’s over and that everyone is going home safely,” Chitwood said.
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