AUGUSTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First/WRDW) – A Gwinnett County murder suspect is reportedly dead after a police chase near Augusta, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said the chase happened on I-20 eastbound near Jimmie Dyess Parkway near mile marker 193.

Deputies conducted a PIT maneuver on the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect, who has not been identified, then died by suicide, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Columbia County Coroner’s office says it was called to the scene around 8:45 p.m.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

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GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A murder suspect is dead after a police pursuit on I-20 in Columbia County that shut down traffic for hours.

Traffic was blocked on I-20 eastbound near Jimmie Dyess Parkway by mile marker 194 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office tells us the incident involved a Gwinnett County murder suspect.

Deputies say they conducted a PIT maneuver on the suspect, who then committed suicide, according to the sheriff’s office.

The male suspect was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:21 p.m., and an autopsy has been scheduled, according to the Columbia County Coroner’s office.

The car ended up in a ditch, and officials worked through the evening to get the car out.

Georgia State Patrol also responded to the scene and is assisting with the investigation.

This isn’t the first time this year that Columbia County deputies have pursued a potentially dangerous suspect. Back in April, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brandon Sikes was killed in the line of duty during a shooting on I-20 near Belair Road.

An encounter with an RV driver claimed the life of Deputy Sikes and seriously injured Deputy Gavin White.

There are no other reported injuries in Friday’s incident.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – An Augusta man has been sentenced after a jury found him guilty on multiple charges involving domestic violence, the District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

According to District Attorney Jared Williams, 45-year-old Jameel Thomson of Augusta “stood trial this week for the March 16, 2021 beating and August 8, 2022 kidnapping and shooting of his romantic partner.”

The report states that the victim’s orbital eye bone was broken in the 2021 incident and a year later, Thompson shot the victim in the shoulder, which shattered her clavicle in 2022.

Thompson was found guilty on all charges, including Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, Home Invasion, Hijacking a Motor Vehicle, Aggravated Battery-Family Violence and Aggravated Assault-Family Violence. He was sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole on Oct. 30.