PASTOR SHOT AND KILLED IN TOCCOA

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating a Tuesday
afternoon shooting in Toccoa involving a law enforcement officer and
the pastor of an area church.

Jonathan Ayers of Hart County, age 28, died Tuesday night at Stephens
County Hospital after being treated for a gunshot wound received
during an incident at a convenience store located at the corner of
Broad and Currahee streets.

Ayers was pastor of Shoal Creek Baptist Church located in a portion of
Hart County near Lavonia.

The church had about 72 in attendance last Sunday.

During a press conference held yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon,
Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that NCIS (Narcotics
Criminal Investigation and Suppression team) was in the process of
conducting a covert drug operation when Ayers was seen meeting with a
target of that investigation.

The investigation was targeting drug sales and prostitution, Shirley
said.

At one point the suspect of the investigation was seen getting out of
Ayers' car prior to Ayers arriving at the convenience store.

Officers got out and identified themselves (to Ayers) and he (Ayers)
did not open the door, Shirley said.

"They identified themselves again and Mr. Ayers backed into one of the
agents, then drove forward in the direction of the other agent, then
the agent fired two shots into the auto," Shirley said.

Ayers then drove off from the convenience store, Shirley said, and
lost control of his vehicle.

"At that time, when I arrived on the scene, it is my policy and the
policy of the Toccoa Police Department to contact the GBI for an
independent review," he added, saying that he, and the GBI, will get
to the bottom of the incident.

"We collect facts. We dont make opinions," said John Bankhead, GBI
director of public affairs, during the press conference. "In this
case, there are civilian witnesses who are being interviewed as well
as the officers involved."

Bankhead said all interviews and accounts of the incident, along with
information obtained from processing the scene and Ayers' car, would
be compared and compiled into a report, which would then be given to
the district attorney's office for review.

"This is standard in every police shooting," he said. "We have no
connection to this area, and we want to make sure it (the
investigation) is thorough, and it will take as long as it takes to
get the DA the information he needs."

Bankhead did emphasize that Ayers was not involved in any drug
transaction.

"It was first suspected, when he was observed with the target, but was
later determined there was no connection to drugs," said Bankhead.
"There was another situation involved that we cannot discuss."

Shirley confirmed that the target of the narcotics/prostitution
investigation was not in the vehicle with Ayers when the incident
occurred, and said that she was in custody and had been questioned.

"Obviously, when you have a tragic death, people want immediate
answers," said Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brian
Rickman, "but we want to give these professionals time, this has to be
an extremely thorough, extremely detailed and extremely comprehensive
investigation."

Both Shirley and Bankehead declined to release any further details
regarding the investigation, including the name of the officer
involved or further details on why the officers followed Ayers to the
convenience store following his departure from the target of the drug/
prostitution investigation.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and we cannot give out any more
details, both to protect the integrity of the investigation and (out
of) respect for the family," Bankhead said.

Shirley initially indicated, in an interview Tuesday afternoon at the
scene of the car accident, that the shooting incident occurred during
a "covert operation" and that the individual involved in a drug
transaction was shot at the convenience store and then fled in a
vehicle, which resulted in a secondary crime scene where the car left
the road (Broad Street) and possibly hit a tree.

"About one hour ago, an NCIS (Narcotics Criminal Investigation and
Suppression team) officer was involved in a shooting," Shirley said at
approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday. "We -- the Stephens County Sheriff's
Office, the GBI and the Toccoa Police Department -- are investigating
the officer-involved shooting," he added in his statement, adding that
the individual was transported to Stephens County Hospital with a
gunshot wound in his right upper abdomen," Shirley said. "The
individual was alert and awake."

The NCIS is a three-county drug enforcement agency that works in the
Mountain Judicial Circuit of Rabun, Habersham and Stephens counties.

Stating the incident was a "rapidly unfolding situation," Shirley said
there was a continuing investigation into the facts, and mentioned
that "we do have witnesses, other than the NCIS officer, who are being
interviewed."

On Wednesday morning, Shirley referred all questions concerning the
case to the GBI. He said it is sheriff's department policy to bring in
the GBI when there is an officer-involved shooting.

Joe Joseph, owner of the convenience store, was present at his
business when the incident occurred.

"I thought I was watching a live movie," he said later. "I don't know
when he started shooting."

Joseph said he only observed shots being fired by the undercover
agent, and said there were two vehicles involved -- a truck which he
said contained the undercover agent who fired his weapon as well as a
passenger; and a car, driven by Ayers.

Joseph said, as far as he could tell, Ayers did not have a
weapon.

The GBI has not released a statement on the incident, and, as of press
time, has been unavailable for comment.

The name of the officer involved in the incident has not been
released.