Columbia County Deputy Brandon Sikes, a crime suppression officer for the department since 2018, was killed during a standoff on Interstate 20, according to Columbia County Sheriff Clay N. Whittle on Sunday.
Sikes is survived by his wife, Amber, who works for the sheriff’s office in Columbia County, Georgia.
Another deputy, Gavin White, who also works in crime suppression, was shot during the incident and taken to the hospital for treatment, Whittle said.
The deadly encounter began Saturday afternoon, around 6:30 p.m., when two deputies attempted to serve a temporary protective order on a suspect named James Blake Montgomery. During the confrontation, both deputies were shot.
Montgomery then barricaded himself inside an RV, according to police reports.
Montgomery attempted to flee under fire, according to police, and his RV collided with a median barrier on I-20 westbound near Exit 194.
According to reports, law enforcement quickly surrounded the vehicle and used drones and robots to assess the situation. They initially stated that it was unclear whether Montgomery was still alive inside.
Montgomery was found dead inside the motorhome following a prolonged standoff, according to officials. Sheriff’s deputies, assisted by local, state, and federal agencies, discovered multiple pipe bombs and bomb-making materials inside the RV, including at least one device rigged with a remote switch, according to Whittle on Sunday.
Investigators discovered several propane cylinders beneath the motorhome, raising concerns about the risk of a catastrophic explosion, the sheriff said.
Deputy Andrew Brown was one of those who engaged Montgomery during the firefight. Whittle credited Brown with saving the life of another injured deputy, Gavin White, by dragging him across three patrol cars and driving him straight to Doctor’s Hospital while still under fire.
“Probably saving his life, according to the doctors,” Whittle said.
Authorities also recovered an illegally modified fully automatic AR-style rifle, numerous magazines, several handguns, and ammunition boxes from the motorhome, according to reports.
Investigators also discovered jars containing unknown liquids, which could be bomb-making materials or related to Montgomery’s previously known illegal steroid operation, Whittle said.
Both Sikes and Montgomery are being autopsied at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Atlanta.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson issued a statement on Facebook on Saturday, saying, “We are heartbroken and praying for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and our neighbors in Columbia County. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen, the entire Sheriff’s Office, and everyone who is grieving this unimaginable loss. We respect their sacrifice and pray for the difficult times ahead.” Columbia County is located in the Augusta-Richmond County metropolitan area.
Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp also issued a statement on X on Saturday, offering condolences and stating that he is “painfully reminded of why those who wear a badge have more than earned our enduring respect and appreciation.”
