A man accused of killing a small-town Georgia police officer is being hunted by authorities after what officials suspect was a targeted attack tied to an arrest made just days earlier.
Warm Springs City Councilman Michael Bishop told 11 Alive that he believes 23-year-old Jimmie Lee Steverson shot Warm Springs Police Sgt. Chris Fisher, a father of two, in retaliation after Fisher arrested him last week on weapons and drug charges.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a Blue Alert for Steverson after Fisher was fatally shot outside the Meriwether Country Inn, located about 70 miles south of Atlanta.
Officials said Steverson should be treated as armed and dangerous.
Investigators described him as 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 150 pounds, with black dreadlocks and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and black gym shorts while driving a black 2026 Chevrolet Silverado, authorities said.
“If you see him or see any suspicious activity, please take immediate precautions and notify 911,” the GBI warned.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the events that led to the deadly shooting.
However arrest records show Steverson was busted last Friday morning around 1 a.m. for charges including possession/distribution of marijuana, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime and obstruction of officers with threats or violence.
Sgt. Fisher was listed as the arresting officer, and Bishop told the outlet he believes the young officer, who had only moved to town and joined the force three months ago, was deliberately targeted as a result of their interaction.
“This kid had policing in his blood … so tragic and very sad,” a police source told the outlet, adding that Fisher’s father was also a cop.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement urging residents of the state to keep Fisher and his family in their prayers.
“Marty, the girls, and I are deeply saddened this morning by the news that Officer Chris Fisher has been killed,” Kemp said.
“This is a tragic reminder of the dangers law enforcement face on a daily basis in service to their communities, and I ask that all Georgians lift up Fisher’s family and his fellow officers in prayer.”
Anyone with information about Steverson’s whereabouts should call 911 or the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted through the GBI website or its See Something, Send Something app.
