Captain Tony Ranieri of the SCSO briefs the media. (Photo: Walter Geiger)
Former sheriff Buice shot in Griffin; in stable condition
Former Lamar County sheriff Joe Buice was shot while on duty Friday afternoon in Spalding County. He was out of surgery and resting at Grady Hospital in Atlanta at 10:45 p.m., according to Capt. Tony Ranieri of the Spalding County S.O.
Buice was conscious at the scene of the shooting at 2388 East McIntosh Road and lifeflighted to the Grady trauma center. He remained stable Saturday morning.
Bill Taylor of WKEU radio in Griffin told The Herald-Gazette Buice was hit with a round from an AK-47 or SKS assault weapon.
Buice was coherent and talking to emergency personnel at the scene before he was lifeflghted, Taylor said.
At a 6:30 p.m. press conference held near the shooting scene, Capt. Ranieri said Buice was first dispatched in a suicide call involving a man with a rifle. By the time he arrived on the scene, the man was firing on passing cars.
He fired on a white Chevy pickup, blasting glass into the driver's face. The as-yet unidentified male victim was also lifeflighted but not seriously hurt. One report indicated he was released from the hospital early Saturday.
Another vehicle was fired on but the driver was not hit, went home and called 911.
Buice was shot in the cheek. The round went through his neck and lodged in his shoulder.
The suspect, tentatively identified as Michael Stringer, was shot and killed by two more deputies who arrived at the scene to back up Buice. Spalding deputies had reportedly had problems with Stringer previously.
Buice went to work as a patrol deputy for Spalding sheriff Dee Stewart last year after failing in his reelection effort here.
Stringer reportedly had a wife and child.
Bill Taylor of WKEU radio in Griffin told The Herald-Gazette Buice was hit with a round from an AK-47 or SKS assault weapon.
Buice was coherent and talking to emergency personnel at the scene before he was lifeflghted, Taylor said.
At a 6:30 p.m. press conference held near the shooting scene, Capt. Ranieri said Buice was first dispatched in a suicide call involving a man with a rifle. By the time he arrived on the scene, the man was firing on passing cars.
He fired on a white Chevy pickup, blasting glass into the driver's face. The as-yet unidentified male victim was also lifeflighted but not seriously hurt. One report indicated he was released from the hospital early Saturday.
Another vehicle was fired on but the driver was not hit, went home and called 911.
Buice was shot in the cheek. The round went through his neck and lodged in his shoulder.
The suspect, tentatively identified as Michael Stringer, was shot and killed by two more deputies who arrived at the scene to back up Buice. Spalding deputies had reportedly had problems with Stringer previously.
Buice went to work as a patrol deputy for Spalding sheriff Dee Stewart last year after failing in his reelection effort here.
Stringer reportedly had a wife and child.
Defined tags for this entry: Breaking News, buice, Crime, joe buice, michael stringer, News, spalding deputy shot
Hope I can read about the paid bloggers somewhere else real soon.
Thatll be a hoot! Haerd they have pictures!!!
I have known each and everyone of you through the years. I think very highly of Joe, first he was the law-then he was your friend. If you ever had him as your friend you couldn't have asked for a better friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I am truly sorry this happened to such good people
My prayers are with you all at this time of need. And i couldn't agree with nora more, joe was the law first, but then he was your friend. My ex=in laws were extremely close with Mr. Joe, he coached ball with my paw in law, and when paw in law and my grandmother in law both passed, he was at the house with the family telling them if they needed anything to let him know. He's a good man and a good law man and this world needs more people like him. Our prayers go out to your family and to joe that he will recover so he can continue to serve and protect us.
there when I needed his help or advice. My
prayers go out to you and your family.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Also, I meant nothing negative by the "poor aim" statement. As aforementioned, is was a general observation, considering the lethality of the 7.62x39 cartridge used (the weapon was described as an SKS or AK-style weapon). I find it ironic how everyone can post about their prayers, but as soon as I chalk it up to surgeons, immediately I'm hateful, a jackass, and all sorts of things.
It's a pity you're such bigots. I guess we can't all work hard for good reading comprehension... maybe you guys should pray for it.
they would get my prayers and praise if they are doing the job for free.
I can see now all the media going off about "assault weapons" now. That is rediculous. These guns are really no different than the average hunting rifles. They are 556/223 round or 7.62x39 round. Actually there are a ton of deer rifles that are way more powerful than the gun used in the crime. This idiot could have used any weapon from a .22 all the way to a rocket launcher to commit the crime. The term "assault weapon" is commonly used by liberals that want to but drastic restrictions or bans on weapons as a whole.
Again, I hope that Joe gets well soon and Im glad that they saved the tax payers money by ending this psycho paths life.
Jeff Sanders, Rescue Chief-Upson Co.
" GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE... PEOPLE DO!!! "
Secondly, trials and tribulation do not develope charactor as some believe, but rather it REVEALS charactor!! When Joe was not re-elected for whatever reason, he could have pursued a cush teaching position at the college or used his influence to take on some upper level corporate management position and just move on. Not Joe; "To protect and serve" is not what he does, it's who he is! Joe is a protector of the people even at the risk of his life. Talk about CHARACTOR. Joe and his family serve with honor and integrity in all they are asked of them. This country, in my opinion, needs alot more Joe's, not alot more politicians..... Just something to think about.
Lets just leave it at, we hope that he fully recovers with no conflicts for now. Maybe in a few months when the HG reports how well he is doing then we can get into all kinds of specifics.
Lots and lots of comments being removed from here.