GBI: Man kidnapped woman after shooting deputy

COMMERCE, Ga. — The search for the man who is accused of having shot a Banks County deputy has taken a twist.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the suspect in the shooting kidnapped a woman from her home in Commerce overnight.

Channel 2's Lori Wilson learned that the suspect kidnapped the woman because he couldn't drive a stick shift.

GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles said, "There was a robbery that occurred in the Atlanta dragway in the Commerce area. Before he ran, he shot at deputies, which is aggravated assault of a police officer."

A man said he could have been the next victim when the gunman broke into his home shortly after.

"He busted out the back glass," Jerry Kitchens said.

Authorities said they spotted the suspect running away from Kitchens' home after his burglar alarm went off.

"I might have been shot. Me and my wife both. He was looking for a car, you know," Kitchens said.

According to the police report, the suspect then broke into Kitchens' neighbor's home through a kitchen window and forced her to drive him into the Atlanta area.

The woman let him out of the truck near I-285 and Ga. 400.

She suffered minor injuries. The victim said the suspect wrote down her driver's license info and said he would harm her if she called police.

She called them anyway and was able to help authorities develop a sketch of the suspect.

Police are not saying where the suspect may be, only that time is of the essence and they want the sketch to reach as many people as possible.

"We are considering him armed and dangerous just based upon his prior actions, and we are asking the public if they come into contact with him not to approach him," Police said.

The reward is now up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Cox Media Group