Murder charges have been filed against the man accused of leading the Tuesday morning car chase that claimed the life of a southeast Georgia sheriff.
Montgomery County Sheriff Ladson O’Connor was killed early Tuesday after losing control of his vehicle while pursuing 35-year-old Jim Edward Lowery, who had entered O’Connor’s jurisdiction while fleeing deputies from nearby Toombs County. Initial charges filed against Lowery, who was apprehended several hours after the sheriff’s crash, included three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Sherry Lang said Wednesday, however, that new warrants had been issued charging Lowery with felony murder. Lang said it was still unclear what caused O’Connor to crash, but that there was “a good chance he was being shot at” by Lowery.
Under Georgia law, a suspect can be charged with felony murder when they’re accused of causing someone’s death while engaging in illegal activity.
The chase that ended O’Connor’s life began around midnight Tuesday in Toombs County. According to the GBI, which is investigating the incident, deputies were assisting a motorist when the driver of another vehicle — later identified as Lowery — “attempted to leave the area” after spotting them.
The deputies gave chase and O’Connor joined the pursuit when it crossed into Montgomery County, which is about three hours southeast of Atlanta.
“During the pursuit, Sheriff O’Connor lost control of his vehicle, wrecked and was dead on the scene,” Lang said Tuesday.
Lowery ran away after crashing his own car in the town of Uvalda. He was apprehended several hours later after exchanging gunfire with authorities, Lang said.
Nicole Dixie Best, a passenger in Lowery’s vehicle, has also been arrested. She was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, Lang said.
O'Connor had served as Montgomery County's sheriff since January 2013. According to his obituary, the 42-year-old leaves behind a wife, four children, his parents and five siblings.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Brewton Parker College chapel in O’Connor’s hometown of Mount Vernon. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Georgia Concerns of Police Survivors, 142 Clubhouse Drive NW, Kennesaw, Ga., 30144.
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