GBI Investigates Death in Habersham County After Attempted Traffic Stop and Chase

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of William Charles Lamberti, age 48, of Demorest, at the request of the Clarkesville Police Department.

The request was placed by Clarkesville Police Department officials after a traffic stop and chase along Georgia Highway 115 in Habersham County yesterday, March 3, involving Lamberti.

According to GBI reports, at around 10 p.m yesterday, Clarkesville Police initiated a traffic stop on a truck driven by Lamberti.  Lamberti allegedly refused to stop and led police on a chase. 

The GBI report states that there was a passenger in the vehicle with Lamberti. 

According to the GBI Report, “The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Demorest Police Department joined the chase. A Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy performed a PIT maneuver on Lamberti’s truck, which ended the pursuit. The truck, driven by Lamberti, came to a stop near Georgia Highway 115 and Habersham Mills Road. Lamberti then shot himself inside the truck. EMS treated Lamberti and took him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.”   

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident due to the use of the PIT maneuver.   

Lamberti will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. 

The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and there is no further information available. WNEG News will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as they become available.