Suspect in Tifton police officer shooting, standoff found dead in jail

Source: Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Tifton Grapevine

Source: Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO)

TIFTON, Ga. – According to the Tifton Grapevine Newsletter, The Tifton man charged with shooting two Tifton Police officers Friday has been found dead in the Coffee County Jail, according to law enforcement sources.

Davy Deonte Royal, 35, was charged with shooting Tifton Police Detectives Michael Gaskins and Jerry Fulford as they attempted to serve a search warrant at a Lee Avenue residence. After a two-hour standoff, Royal surrendered and was taken to the Tift County Jail. He was later moved to the Coffee County Jail.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that an inmate was found unresponsive late Monday and later died but declined to identify the inmate, saying the GBI is investigating.

“The individual was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment and pronounced deceased after life-saving attempts were made. The family of the individual has been notified; at the request of Sheriff Fred Cole, the GBI has been requested to complete a comprehensive, independent investigation into the matter. At this time no additional information is being released,” the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

When the Tifton Grapevine contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday, a GBI spokesman said, “I can confirm we have been requested by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a jail death. The investigation is active and ongoing.”

Royal was arrested and charged with five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder.

Source: Tifton Police Department (TPD), Tifton Grapevine

At about 10:50 a.m. Friday, Tifton Police Department officers attempted to serve a search warrant at Royal’s home in the 800 block of Lee Avenue. They knocked on the door and announced their presence. Royal shot at them, and the officers returned fire, the GBI said.

Both officers Gaskins and Fulford were struck.

Gaskins, an 11-year veteran of the Tifton Police Department, was released from the hospital on Sunday and received a police escort home, where he will continue to recuperate, said Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

Fulford was more severely injured and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He underwent another surgery Tuesday, and Chief Hyman said Fulford was “in good spirits.”

Ironically, one day before he was shot, Fulford was congratulated on the Tifton Police Department’s Facebook page for serving two years with the department.

Chief Hyman said his department has been overwhelmed and appreciative of all the support it has received since Friday’s incident – from the governor, elected officials, other law enforcement agencies, and especially from the local community.

“The support we’ve gotten from the community shows that the Tifton community really cares,” Hyman said.

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

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