By Joe Johnson
A Jackson County deputy who was shot in the line of duty three days ago has died.
She was 49.
The sheriff’s statement is as follows:
“As Sheriff, and on behalf of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, it is with a heavy heart that I advise you all that we lost Deputy Lena Marshall around 3:50 pm today. Once arrangements have been made, we will provide that information. Please respect the privacy of Deputy Marshall's family at this difficult time.”
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, deputies responded to the home at 6416 GA highway 124 at about 9:20 p.m. Friday to investigate a complaint that homeowners wanted a non-resident out of the home.
“When deputies arrived at that location, they made contact with a woman at the front door of the residence. The woman pulled out a firearm and pointed it towards the deputies, according to the GBI. “The deputies gave verbal commands for the woman to drop the weapon. The woman opened fire on the deputies. One of the deputies was hit and injured. The other deputy returned fire, hitting the woman and killing her.”
The GBI identified the woman who was killed as 43-year-old Jessica Worsham of Hoschton.
Additional information about the incident has not been released.
However, from several videotaped tirades posted to YouTube, Worsham rants against local judges and law enforcement, apparently concerning a child custody matter.
In September the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office issued a lookout for Worsham because she and her two children were missing.
In one of the videos, posted two days before the shooting, Worsham called Jackson County and its employees “a disgrace” and wondered why no one was coming for her.
“Can’t make a decision? Can’t decide because you know what’s waiting for you?” the woman said.
In the same video Worsham spoke about having just gone to Braselton “to buy some ammo – critical defense bullets for ‘Betty,’ you know because we have to treat her right, I take her apart and make sure she is nice and lubricated...”
The shooting is being independently investigated by the GBI, which probes all officer-involved shooting incidents.
The GBI said once they have completed investigating the incident, the casefile will be provided to the Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
To assist the deputy’s family, the Deputy Lena Nicole Marshall Benefit Fund has been set up at the Northeast Georgia Bank, 1775 Old Pendergrass Road, Jefferson. Donations can be made at any Northeast Georgia Bank.