Double Shooting, High-speed Chase Ends With Standoff and Arrest

A high-speed chase through Banks, Franklin and Madison Counties is over and a suspect is under arrest after an hours-long stand off overnight.

According to Banks County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Carissa McFaddin it started about 9p Monday night when Banks County Dispatch received a report of a shooting in the area of Carson Road and Highway 326.

“Banks County 911 originally received an emergency call around 8:51 p.m. regarding a shooting that had just occurred in the area of Carson Road and Highway 326. Deputies responded and found two victims, one of which who was shot in the chest and the other shot in the arm,” McFaddin said.

McFaddin said the two victims told deputies they were traveling with the suspect when a fight broke out in the vehicle.

“The suspect, identified as Jeremy John Onori, 38, of Old Jefferson Road in Athens, shot the two victims and left them on the side of the road then fled the scene,” she said. “A lookout request was then sent to surrounding law enforcement agencies for a white Infiniti.”

Then about 11:42p Monday night, the white Infiniti was spotted in Madison County by a trooper with the Georgia State Patrol and a high-speed chase ensued.

GSP was assisted in the chase by Madison and Franklin, County Sheriff’s deputies.

Troopers were able to use a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle in the area of Black Creek Church and Red Hill Roads in Madison County.

That is when McFaddin said the suspect then put a gun to his head inside the vehicle.

“A standoff with the driver ensued quickly at which time the driver refused to put the gun down and continued to smoke from a smoking device that contained what is believed to be crack cocaine,” McFaddin explained. “The standoff continued until 4:19 a.m. After negotiation efforts were employed, Georgia State Patrol SWAT was finally able to detain the suspect. The driver was then confirmed to be the initial suspect from the Banks County double shooting.”

After his arrest, GSP determined Onori was the same man wanted in the Banks County double shooting.

Assisting in the standoff were deputies from Banks Franklin and Madison County Sheriff’s departments, the Commerce Police and the Appalachian Drug Task Force.

“We would like to thank GBI, GSP, GSP SWAT, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Commerce Police Department and the ADTF for all of their assistance during this incident,” McFaddin said Tuesday.

McFaddin said charges will be leveled against Onori by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

No word on the condition of the two shootings victims.