Suspect in Banks County mail carrier murder arrested, identified

Banks County investigators have arrested a man suspected of shooting and killing a mail carrier Saturday.

On the Banks County Sheriff’s Facebook page, Sheriff Carlton Speed said it happened about 9:30a Saturday morning.

Speed says, “Deputies with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding an intentional shooting. Upon deputies’ arrival, they located 59-year-old Asa (Junior) Wood of Commerce deceased from a gunshot wound…Wood, a rural postal worker, was working his morning route when he was fatally shot.”

Speed said that during the course of the investigation, leads were developed and a person of interest was established. Deputies were provided with a vehicle description for the person of interest.

While patrolling the area of Hwy 51 North and Bennett Road, the suspect vehicle was encountered by deputies.

Speed says deputies attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle fled from deputies. During the pursuit, a Banks County Sheriff’s Office Deputy performed a PIT maneuver, disabling the violator vehicle.

Immediately the driver exited the vehicle armed and began firing upon deputies.

Speed says quote, “Deputies returned fire, striking the offender.”

The offender sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Sheriff Speed said Sunday the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to investigate the officer-involved shooting as standard procedure. Deputies involved will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

The Banks County Sheriff’s Office is working in tandem with the US Postal Inspectors, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Banks County Coroner’s Office.

The suspect involved in the officer-involved shooting has been identified as 49-year-old Larry Steven Grogan, of Danielsville.

Speed said no further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Sharon Chapman at # 470-252-2276 or by email at: [email protected].