On Friday, June 17, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Appling County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred on Hwy 341, just inside Wayne County at the Appling County line.
At approximately 2:05 p.m., Appling County Deputies were in pursuit of a motorcycle driven by Mathew Jared Schantz, 23, of Perry, for a traffic violation. Schantz was pursued, traveling at a high rate of speed into Wayne County, at which point Wayne County authorities and a Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Ranger took over the chase. Schantz continued to evade authorities and began traveling back in the direction of Appling County. While traveling on U.S. Highway 341, Appling County Sheriff Benny Deloach encountered Schantz who was speeding toward him and discharged his weapon striking Schantz. As a result, Schantz crashed the motorcycle. Schantz was air lifted to an area hospital where he is in stable condition.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for review.