At presstime, suspect was still at large
By Shawn Jarrard
Towns County Herald Editor
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help in locating a man who allegedly shot Deputy Austin Bradburn following an early morning traffic stop on Friday, Dec. 13.
Bradburn was treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for a gunshot wound to the leg that was not considered life-threatening and he is expected to recover, according to law enforcement officials.
The suspect has not been identified but is described as a white man of about 6 feet in height and weighing between 170 and 180 pounds. He was wearing a black beanie, gray hoodie and black athletic pants at the time of the shooting, according to the GBI.
This incident unfolded just after 2 a.m. on Dec. 13 when Deputy Bradburn spotted a silver Honda four-door sedan — 2010 or similar model — with no tag, prompting him to initiate a traffic stop on Plott Town Road in Young Harris near the Union County line.
The driver of the Honda stopped but immediately got out of his vehicle and approached Bradburn. The man did not obey commands given by Bradburn, who then unsuccessfully attempted to tase the suspect, according to the GBI.
A fight over Bradburn’s gun ensued, resulting in Bradburn being shot through-and-through his left leg, after which the suspect drove away in the Honda, leaving Bradburn’s gun at the scene.
Towns County EMS and law enforcement responded to the scene and provided care to Bradburn, who was subsequently life-flighted to Northeast Georgia Medical.
A former deputy for the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Bradburn swore in as a Towns County Sheriff’s Deputy on Oct. 8, according to a Facebook post featuring Sheriff Ken Henderson welcoming his new deputy aboard.
On social media that Friday afternoon, Bradburn shared a graphic image of his gunshot wound and thanked “all my other fellow officers who arrived on scene to administer help and who are looking for the suspect,” as well as “everyone who has messaged me to check on me.”
He also gave a special shout-out to fellow TCSO Deputy Cameron Adams, whom he described as “not only my partner but my brother in blue.”
Adams applied a tourniquet to Bradburn’s leg to stem the bleeding while they waited for EMS to arrive following the shooting. Further, Bradburn said Adams traveled to the Gainesville hospital Friday and “stayed by my side even after working all night.”
“I will be OK just got some recovering to do,” Bradburn wrote, adding, “If you have any information, follow the instructions below. Please let’s get this guy.”
Anyone with information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspect is being asked to call 911 or the GBI Tipline at (800) 597-8477; visit: https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or make a report via the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
GBI Region 8 Special Agent in Charge Kim Williams can be emailed: kim.williams@gbi.ga.gov. The investigation is active and ongoing.