In a tragic incident, a sheriff's deputy in Crisp County, Georgia, lost his life in the line of duty early Wednesday morning. The deputy was shot after encountering a stolen vehicle and the suspect subsequently fled the scene in the deputy's patrol car, sparking a multi-county chase.

Sheriff Billy Hancock, in a somber video message shared on Facebook, described the incident as an encounter with "evil" while the deputy was patrolling the streets of Crisp County. The incident unfolded around 3:40 a.m. in Cordele, approximately 140 miles south of Atlanta. The deputy stopped a vehicle found obstructing the roadway and, upon discovering it had been reported stolen, exited his patrol car. At this point, the suspect opened fire, injuring the deputy.

The suspect then commandeered the deputy's patrol vehicle and initiated a high-speed pursuit across multiple counties. Law enforcement agencies collaborated in the chase, ultimately leading to the suspect's apprehension by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office on Interstate 475. The stolen patrol car was also recovered.

The wounded deputy was transported to Crisp Regional Hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries. The identities of both the deceased deputy and the apprehended suspect have not yet been publicly released. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in the ongoing investigation.