Car runs over deputy; suspect fires at officers, kills himself

BUTLER’S MILL—A Randolph County deputy was seriously injured Tuesday when he was run down and dragged by a subject’s vehicle while responding to a domestic call.

According to Randolph County Sheriff Jeff Fuller, deputy Donnie Grant Jr., 33, was responding to a call on County Road 434 near Butler’s Mill at around noon when he observed the vehicle the subject was said to be in. Grant stopped the subject, and during this exchange was run over by the subject’s gold Yukon and dragged 100 to 150 feet.

Fuller said the driver, John Simons, was from Rockmart, Ga., but his child and his child’s mother live on County Road 434. He had been staying there for a few days. Simons left the scene.

Grant called for help and was Lifeflighted from Woodland High School’s football field to Atlanta Medical Center where he was listed as being in stable condition in the intensive care unit.

Fuller said he has several broken bones, and the doctors were in the process of seeing what other injuries he may have suffered.

Following the incident in Randolph County, Simons fled into Georgia. Fuller said Georgia officers were after him and attempting to deploy stakes when he wrecked near some railroad tracks in Haralson County. There were shots fired at the officers by Simons but then he turned the gun on himself.

Simons was taken by helicopter to Grady Hospital, but Fuller said he later received information from the GBI that Simons had died.

A prayer vigil for Grant was held Tuesday night at Randolph County Courthouse.