Saturday, May 8, 2010

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. -- Authorities have identified a sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed in Rockdale County Saturday afternoon during an exchange of gunfire.

The shooting happened in the 3400 block of Sand Hill Lane, south of Conyers, the Conyers police chief said. Authorities said deputy Brian Lamar Mahaffey was part of the Narcotics and Vice unit and was attempting to serve a warrant at a residence at the time of the shooting.

Investigators said when deputies entered the residence and announced their presence, the suspect, identified as Terry Brown, was in the closet of a back bedroom and opened fire as deputies approached the closet door.

Mahaffey suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to Rockdale County Medical Center. A sheriff's office spokesperson confirmed that he later died. Officials said Mahaffey was an experienced undercover deputy and was wearing a bullet-proof vest when the shooting happened. He was struck somewhere beneath the vest, investigators said. Another deputy sustained shrapnel injuries, officials said.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Pam Martin also learned that the suspect was killed.

Martin spoke with Brown's wife, Mary, about the shooting. Mary Brown told Martin that she received a call from Terry Brown at about 1 p.m. Mary said Terry Brown told her that he loved her and asked her to take care of his mother.

Mary Brown said when she arrived at the house, she saw police cars everywhere. Brown told Martin that she was not living at the house and that she and Terry had been separated.

The sheriff's office said Mahaffey was not alone when he attempted to serve the warrant. There were other deputies inside and outside the residence, officials said. The warrant was related to rape, aggravated assault and kidnapping charges, officials said.

Mchaffey had just celebrated his 30th birthday Friday. He leaves behind a wife and two small children, including a baby. He attended Heritage High School.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

My prayers are with the deputies family.Such a shame that trash takes the life of another.

Anonymous said...

Goodbye Brian. It was an honor to protect and serve with you. You cared about your community - and today you gave all you had to give. Be with God friend. - 2356

Mitch1352 said...

God rest his soul.

Anonymous said...

Our prayers are with the Mahaffey family and the deputies of Rockdale County who lost a brother...

Anonymous said...

My prayers and thoughts are with Deputy Mahaffeys family you will be missed. Be safe out there folks.

Slamin Ethel said...

REST IN PEACE!

Anonymous said...

let me get this straight, the suspect was wanted for rape , aggravated assault and kidnapping and rockdale sends uniform patrol to the suspects house. Why was the swat team not activated! Im sorry uniform patrol should no way be handling such a call.

Oh Me Oh My Oh said...

May God bless his soul and keep and protect him in Heaven. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and officers everywhere who serve. Thank you. Please Stay safe.

Anonymous said...

What a tragic loss. I hope his family feels the loving energy of the community he gave his life to protect. It's not just the law enforcement family that deeply feels the pain. Without men and women like this who are willing to risk their lives for us, this would be a worthless life.
May God comfort you and be by your side.

Anonymous said...

once again ladies and gentlemen this is real. Godspeed Brian

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your service. May God be with you family in their time of great sorrow. We put our lives on the line, but we always look forward to coming home at the end of our shift. When that does not happen, just know that we die trying to make these streets safer for the community we serve!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, it seems that the SWAT Team was too busy that morning stopping cars at a rally of Rockdale citizens held to show the KKK that they didn't want them in their County. A HOAXED KKK meeting. And the citizens knew that. So Rockdale sent the Vice Team without the same protection that the swat team has into that house. The vice team that one member had already complained to the Sheriff that his vest was TOO SMALL!!! and was told that the RCSO did not have the money to buy him a larger one. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE VICE TEAM WAS SENT WITHOUT THE SAME PROTECTION AS THE SWAT TEAM??? CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY BRIAN COULD NOT HAVE A VEST THAT FIT?????!!!!!!!!