Man jailed after allegedly shooting driver running from police

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A man was arrested and is now facing charges after he shot a suspect running from police, authorities said.

Covington police told Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach the incident began Saturday morning when officers attempted to pull over a driver, who they say was driving recklessly on Highway 36.

The man, identified as Terence Lee Lenox, sped off, later crashing at a shopping center on Highway 278. He then ran on foot about 100 yards, about halfway across the parking lot, when another driver chased him down in his truck, police said. When he finally caught up to Lenox, he pulled a gun and shot the man in the neck, authorities said.

"The officers never caught up with the SUV. Got so far ahead of him. Got to the intersection of Pace Street and Highway 278 and crashed into another vehicle," Covington Capt. Craig Treadwell said.

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The citizen, identified as 47-year-old Marcus Pitts, was arrested and booked into the Newton County Jail. Police charged him with aggravated assault, saying he was not justified in the shooting.

Lenox was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

Authorities said instead of taking his own actions, Pitts should have called police, waited for them to respond and let officers engage with Lenox.

“Unless you’re in the situation where a suspect is causing you to be in fear of your life or serious bodily injury, or a death, you cannot use deadly force,” Treadwell said.

Cox Media Group