The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday night in Walton County.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation of thr incident in which William Taylor Parrott, 35, of Wrightsville was shot and subsequently died. No deputies were injured during the incident.
According to the GBI, the preliminary information indicated that Parrott was at a Marathon gas station in Loganville just before 7:30 p.m., where he used his truck to damage several other vehicles in the parking lot. Parrott got out of his truck and began to damage vehicle with a hammer. Parrott got back in his truck and drove to the EZ Stop convenience store located at GA Hwy 81. Parrott got out of his truck with the hammer and confronted a citizen who was armed.
A Walton County deputy arrived on the scene and encountered the armed citizen and Parrott. The armed citizen complied with the deputy to put their gun down. Parrott, still armed with the hammer, charged at the deputy. The deputy fired one shot, striking Parrott. Parrott was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased, the GBI said.
Walton County Sheriff Joe Chapman reportedly told WSB radio on Sunday that prior to being fatality shot, Parrot was suspected of beating his father to death in Wrightsville before driving to a trailer park in Loganville where he killed his mother and then drove to the convenience store where the fatal confrontation with the deputy occurre.
Parrott‘s body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation Of the shooting that, upon completion, the case file will be given to the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.