Man shot 3 times by fugitive also managed to wound him, police say

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. — The son of a man involved with a shootout with a fugitive in north Georgia Wednesday night says his dad is recovering well.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan was in Gordon County, where Dalton Potter was arrested after a manhunt Wednesday night. Potter, 29, is accused of shooting a Whitfield County deputy during a traffic stop on Monday.

Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood said Potter got in a gunfight with a homeowner on the Gordon/Whitfield County line.

Noah Cloer said Potter ambushed his father, Eddie Cloer, as he was out feeding his cows, shooting him three times.

“He just heard a loud bang, and then he felt like a huge kick, and he said he went down and turned around, and Dalton was standing over him,” Noah Cloer said.

Cloer said Potter then shot his father a second time.

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“That’s when Dad reached around and grabbed his .40 caliber and shot Dalton,” Cloer said.

Investigators said Potter was grazed by a bullet and sustained a wound to his head before running off into the woods.

Eddie Cloer was rushed to the hospital, where he is recovering.

After the shooting, over a hundred law enforcement officers and tracking dogs descending on a small country road to track him down.

A few hours later, Potter was captured unarmed.

“Officers basically just walked up on him,” Chitwood said. " They were coming out to refresh their batteries and literally just jumped him on the spot."

Potter was taken to the hospital and discharged into police custody.

Cloer said that he’s proud of his father and that he’s recovering quickly.

“He’s doing good. He’s a champ,” Noah Cloer said.  “I just got off the phone with him. He said he’s fine.”

The wounded Whitfield County deputy was protected by his ballistics vest and is expected to get back on the job next week.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said when Potter shot the deputy, he and another fugitive were driving a stolen trailer loaded with explosives.

Jonathan Hosmer, 47, was arrested Tuesday.

Fugitive wanted in deputy shooting captured in Gordon County; at least one civilian shot Dalton Potter, 29, has been on the run since Monday morning.

Cox Media Group