A man law enforcement was trying to arrest for rape Friday evening was fatally shot in Cherokee County, officials said.
Cherokee sheriff’s deputies were asked by Floyd County deputies to help with the arrest of Charles Woodall, 52, who was staying at a home on Ficklen Church Way, just south of Knox Bridge Highway and outside of Canton, the GBI said. In addition to rape, he was facing charges of incest and entering auto.
At around 11:15 p.m., deputies arrived at the Cherokee home and found Woodall outside with a weapon, the Cherokee sheriff’s office said in a statement. The GBI said he pointed the gun at deputies.
The Cherokee SWAT team was eventually called to the scene and tried to negotiate with Woodall, but the GBI said he continued to point the weapon at officials.
Shots were fired by deputies shortly after midnight, leading to the suspect’s death, authorities said. Officials said his body will be taken to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
It was the 79th officer-involved shooting the state agency was asked to investigate in 2024. At this point last year, the GBI had opened investigations into 93 such incidents.
After the GBI investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
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