Man in Critical Condition after being shot by Fannin County Sheriff Deputy

Thanksgiving morning at approximately 5:30 a.m. Fannin County Deputy Sheriff Michael Early responded to a 911 call by Carl William Davenport. Davenport had called 911 and reported a prowler outside his home.FYN received a call last Friday from an un-named source asking if we were aware that a Deputy Sheriff had shot a man on Ada Street. We contacted Sheriff Dane Kirby for comment. Kirby said he was not able to comment since it was under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We contacted G.B.I. Special Agent Dustin Hamby concerning the investigation; he referred us to agent Kim Williams for comment. Ms Williams only told FYN that G.B.I. was contacted at 6:15 A.M. Thursday by the Fannin County Sheriff saying that a 65 year old male had been shot and an officer was involved.

An un-named source claiming to be a friend of the family gave FYN the following account of the incident. Telling FYN that Davenport called 911 a couple of times concerning a prowler around his property. Deputy Early arrived at Davenport’s home on Parks Rd. off Ada St. approximately 5:30 a.m. Upon arrival Early found Davenport outside with a gun. According to the source Early asked Davenport several times to put down his gun. Davenport went to the ground like he was aiming to shoot Early. Early shot Davenport twice in the stomach. Then Early called dispatch and reported shots fired. FYN was also told that Davenport was hard of hearing and wore a hearing aid.

FYN also spoke with Davenport’s daughter, Rachel Johnson. Johnson told FYN that her dad was a lifelong resident of Fannin County. She told us that Davenport was taken to Fannin Regional Hospital and then transported to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga TN. Davenport has undergone two surgeries and he is currently in an induced medical coma and on life support in the Trauma ICU. Johnson said it did not look good for her father.

Johnson told FYN that her dad probably never heard Early say drop the gun considering he was hearing impaired and could not hear unless he was wearing his hearing aid. She told us her Dad’s hearing aid was still on the coffee table where Davenport had left it.

Johnson went on to say that when she arrived at her father’s home the G.B.I. asked her to come to the Sheriff’s office to interview her about her dad. She said it seemed like they asked her questions for twenty minutes before letting her know it was Early who had shot her dad.

At this time we are not aware of the status of Deputy Michael Early, whether he is on leave pending investigation or if he was allowed to return to work.

FYN has requested a statement from Sheriff Dane Kirby. We also plan to contact the District Attorney concerning the investigation.