Man accused of threatening Paulding deputy with pistol during domestic dispute

Tristan Lee Payne

Tristan Lee Payne

The GBI is investigating after a domestic dispute Friday in Paulding County led to an deputy-involved shooting, officials said.

Tristan Lee Payne, 22, has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault after he failed to comply with deputies and later raised his pistol toward them, according to a news release from the Paulding sheriff’s office.

Deputy Geoffrey Morris was not injured during the incident.

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Deputies responded to a 911 call at a home in the 2500 block of Ga. 101 in Dallas shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday in reference to a man who was intoxicated and threatening family members with a gun, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ashley Henson said in the release.

When deputies entered the home and told Payne to lower his pistol, they said he didn't comply. Deputy Geoffrey Morris then fired at Payne with a shotgun, striking him in the arm and shoulder. Payne fled to the back of the residence, where he was arrested, according to the release.

Payne spent the night in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was discharged the next morning. He is being held in the Paulding jail without bond.

Morris, who was not injured, was placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice.

The incident marks the 52nd officer-involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate this year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also tracks officer-involved shootings that don't involve the GBI, and those numbers sometimes differ from the GBI's tally.

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