After reportedly firing his gun first at a vehicle at a convenience store on Highway 80 East, then at a customer pumping gas at a travel center on Highway 301 South, a Warner Robins man was shot and later died Tuesday after exchanging gunfire with Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
No officers or bystanders were injured in the multiple incidents. The suspected gunman was identified as Robert Allen Bostic, 25. He was pronounced dead after being taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, a call was received at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday about a motor vehicle accident in the area of Pojo’s convenience store at Highway 80 East and Burkhalter Road.
Deputies were told the vehicle involved – a black Chevrolet Camaro – left the scene. After the initial call, several calls came in describing four separate incidents, including a hit and run, reckless driving and shots being fired from the car, according to a release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
About 15 minutes later, the Camaro in question pulled into the Gas Pro Travel Center on Highway 301 South at A.J. Riggs Road, less than a mile south of Ogeechee Technical College.
Bostic “then reportedly fired shots at a customer who was at the store purchasing fuel,” the Sheriff’s Office release stated.
One of the shots struck the customer’s car.
Upon arriving at Gas Pro, a deputy pulled to the front of the car while another pulled to the rear. Bostic got out of the driver’s door and one of the deputies gave commands for Bostic to show his hands. Bostic pulled out a handgun and shot at one of the deputies. Both deputies shot at Bostic, hitting him multiple times.
Georgia State Troopers arrived on the scene to assist the deputies and they begin providing first aid to Bostic who was transported to the EGRMC emergency room, where he died. Bostic’s body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Pooler where an autopsy will be performed.
“The deputies displayed courage and a great deal of professionalism in the way they handled this unfortunate situation,” Sheriff Noel Brown said in the release.
He said he appreciated the quick response of the Georgia State Patrol, who got there immediately to assist. Brown also thanked the other agencies for responding to assist, including the Statesboro Police Department, Georgia Southern University P.D., Bulloch County EMS and Ga. D.O.T.
“I am thankful that no law enforcement officers or innocent bystanders were injured in this incident,” he said.
The investigation has been turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Anyone with information on this case is requested to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Region 5 Investigative Office at (912) 871-1121, or the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 764-8888.