At approximately 3:50pm today (January 16th), deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a private residence on Dews Pond Road near Calhoun, in response to a request from authorities in Floyd County, Georgia, concerning the report of an armed man threatening to kill his wife. Upon their arrival, deputies saw the man in question in a pick-up truck, which had been reported stolen. This man, subsequently identified as one Allen Eugene Ott, age 48, of 781 Flowery Branch, Kingston, Georgia, was approached by the deputies and ignored repeated commands to put down a large caliber rifle with which he was armed. Ott pointed his rifle at a deputy who shot him. Ott then pointed his rifle at a second deputy and was shot again. He was removed from the scene by ambulance and pronounced dead.
Sheriff Mitch Ralston said, “This was an unfortunate incident where an individual threatened the deputies, placing them in fear for their lives and forced them to take action. It is a reminder of the dangers in such cases that our courageous officers face every day. The deputies involved in this event will be on paid, administrative leave until the completion of the GBI investigation, which is in keeping with our standard policy and procedures.”