Georgia State Patrol Shooting

Gainesville, GA. – The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) has requested that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigate a shooting incident involving a Georgia State Trooper earlier today. This morning at 8:00 AM, the Hall County 911 Center received a “shots fired” call at GSP Post Six, located at 2000 Cleveland Highway in Gainesville. At that location there is a GSP post which is responsible for the Gainesville area and a Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) office.

This morning, two troopers were standing outside of the SCRT office when a man drove up in a silver Ford F350. The man got out of the truck with a rifle, later determined to be a Ruger American 30-06 hunting style rifle, and fired a shot. The man said something to the effect of “you guys are going to have to kill me.” The troopers ran for cover and began giving the man verbal commands telling him to drop his weapon. The man continued to advance in the direction of the troopers and did not comply with the troopers’ commands. One of the troopers then fired one shot at the man striking him in his right shoulder. The man fell to the ground and dropped his rifle. The two troopers then approached the subject, with their weapons drawn, and handcuffed the man. The man was transported to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he was treated for the gunshot wound. The man, identified as Leighton Beaux Marchetta, 21, of 3438 Lakeland Road, Gainesville, appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the incident. Marchetta is being charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer. When released from the hospital, he will be transported to the Hall County Jail.

The trooper who fired the shots is Trooper First Class Steve Thompson, a 15 year veteran with GSP. The trooper who called 911 is Trooper First Class Jeremy Allison, a four year veteran of GSP. Neither trooper was injured as a result of the incident.

Title 01 1 from Fetch on Vimeo.