LAVONIA, Ga. - The man accused of shooting two northeast Georgia police officers, wounding both, appeared before a Franklin County magistrate judge Tuesday afternoon.
Khari Anthony Dashaun Gordon, 22, of Greenville S.C., was found crawling in the woods hours after a massive manhunt began for him Monday evening. Police said they were able to identify Gordon as the suspect thanks to the body camera video that was recorded during the encounter.
App users: Click here to watch the embedded video
Tuesday afternoon, Gordon stood before Judge Cody Grizzle to enter his plea to two counts each of aggravated assault on a police officer and criminal attempt to commit murder as well as a single count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony.
When it came to the issue of bond, Judge Grizzle called Gordon a flight risk and a danger to the community reciting the alleged gunman’s long criminal history in court.
“You are currently on probation, parole or bond for some of the following offenses: two counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, four counts of burglary, two counts of grand larceny with a value of $10,000 or more, two counts of break-in to auto tanks where fuel was stored,” Judge Grizzle read in open court.
Not surprising, Judge Grizzle ordered Gordon to be held without bond pending his next court appearance.
Investigators said Gordon was on probation for attempted murder when he shot Lavonia Police Captain Michael Schulman and Officer Jeffery Martin during a traffic stop on Jones Street off of Interstate 85. It is a fact that outraged Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle
“It’s unacceptable that he was on the streets. I can assure him that he will have a different outcome in the state of Georgia than he did in South Carolina,” said Chief Carlisle.
Officer Martin was shot in the hand, Captain Schulman was struck in the shoulder under his bullet proof vest, shattering his ribs and puncturing his lungs.
“During the traffic stop, they learned the vehicle was stolen out of Greenville, South Carolina. They tried to place the suspect that was driving the vehicle under arrest he reached in his pocket pulled out a firearm and shot both of my officers,” said Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle.
Officer Martin’s mother-in-law, an administrative assistant at the Lavonia Police Department was thankful both officers escaped with their lives, knowing the outcome could have been much different.
“I am, but I knew he was in good hands. We have the finest police department here in Lavonia and I’m just so thankful he is doing well,” said family member Maria Chitwood.
Both officers continue to recover from their injuries.
Chief Carlisle said more charges are possible against Gordon as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation continues to piece together the events of the night.
This is the third police shooting in less than a week. Early Monday morning, two Central Georgia police officers were shot while serving a warrant in Crawford County. Both were recovering in a hospital Monday night.
And the tragedy in Americus last Wednesday is still fresh on the minds of law enforcement officers in the state. Officers Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith were shot while responding to a domestic violence call when the suspect opened fire. Officer Smarr died on the scene, Smith died the following day.
And at the beginning of November, two Peach County deputies were killed while responding to a domestic dispute call. Sgt. Patrick Sondron was killed at the scene; Deputy Daryl Smallwood was rushed to a Macon hospital where he spent two days in the ICU before passing away.