By Alexis Stevens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CARROLL COUNTY, Georgia – A Carroll County deputy who was shot while executing a warrant died of his injuries Friday, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigator Taylor Bristow was shot on Tuesday morning and flown to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He remained in critical condition until his death. Bristow was 30 years old.

“Tonight we mourn the passing of Investigator Bristow, who has left this earth and received his heavenly wings,” The Carroll Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post“He served our community with unwavering passion and dedicated his life to protecting the citizens of Carroll County. We are deeply saddened and at a loss for words. Please keep his family in mind and pray for them and respect their privacy as they mourn this difficult loss.”

Bristow was the second Atlanta deputy killed in the line of duty in less than a week. On Aug. 17, Paulding County Deputy Brandon Cunningham was shot and killed while responding to a report of domestic violence at a home near Hiram, investigators said.

Bristow, who had served with the Carroll department for six years, was attempting to execute an arrest warrant related to a GBI investigation into child sexual exploitation when he was shot, according to investigators. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the area of ​​Don Rich Drive, a dead-end street near Walker Lake, south of Carrollton.

Christopher Bly, 40, of Carrollton opened the door of the house and was then led inside by officers, the GBI said Wednesday.

“Bly pulled out a handgun and fired, striking himself and one of the officers,” the GBI said in a news release. “Bly was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The GBI continues to investigate the incident.

Bristow previously worked for the Ware County Sheriff’s Office and the Waycross Police Department.

This year, six police officers in Georgia have died in the line of duty. Both Cunningham and Bristow were shot. The other four officers died in car accidents.

Bristow was the third Carroll deputy killed in the line of duty, according to the Officers Down Memorial Page, which tracks police officer deaths. Deputy Davy Wayne Crawford died in a car crash in February 2010 and Lt. Billy Ray Jiles was shot and killed in September 2002. The department also lost Deputy Jody Jerome Smith to COVID in September 2021.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Anyone who would like to help Bristow’s family can Online donation to West Georgia First Responders, a nonprofit organization that supports first responders in the area. It is the only legitimate fundraising site associated with the deputy and his family, the sheriff’s office said.

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