Suspect found with ‘bomb material’ shoots deputies
Columbia County Sheriff Whittle says suspected gunman James Blake Montgomery opened fire on two deputies after seeming to be okay during a traffic stop. He allegedly killed Deputy Brandon Sikes and critically injured Deputy Gavin White. He was later found dead with lots of weapons and pipe bombs, according to the sheriff’s office.
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. – One deputy is dead and another is in critical condition after a traffic stop near Augusta led to a shooting. After digging into the suspect’s background, officials are learning there is a lot more to this tragedy.
What we know:
Officials say the driver of a motor home, later identified as James Blake Montgomery, was initially “cooperative” and “non-threatening” when he was first approached on I-20 near Exit 196 Saturday night.
The deputies who stopped him were there to inform him they were serving a temporary protective order for a domestic violence case with his wife, Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle explained during a news conference Sunday afternoon.
At first, it appeared Montgomery understood it was a simple stop and that he would be allowed to leave freely