A Newnan man was shot and killed by Coweta County Sheriff’s deputies on June 1 after he opened fire on them after a traffic stop. Deputies were uninjured despite two occasions of taking gunfire.
Lt. Col. James Yarbrough said the incident began on Bullsboro Drive and Herring Road near the Wells Fargo Bank west of Interstate 85 when a deputy recognized 21-year-old Michael Demetri Johnson, who was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on the roadway.
Yarbrough said Johnson had outstanding warrants on charges such as aggravated assault and armed robbery.
Johnson exited the vehicle driven by his girlfriend and occupied by her 2-year-old child and began running while firing a .45-caliber handgun at the officer in the patrol unit, Yarbrough said.
Johnson ran into a nearby wooded area, with deputies subsequently establishing a perimeter, Yarbrough noted.
Yarbrough said Johnson later exited the wooded area while shooting at deputies, who returned fire and fatally injured Johnson.
Yarbrough said Johnson was known to have gang affiliations.
