Officials say the driver of a motor home, later identified as James Blake Montgomery, was initially "cooperative" and "non-threatening" when he was first approached on I-20, Fox 5 reports.
The deputies who stopped him were there to inform him they were serving a temporary protective order for a domestic violence case with his wife, Columbia County Sheriff Clay Whittle said during a news conference Sunday afternoon.
At first, it appeared Montgomery understood it was a simple stop and that he would be allowed to leave freely afterward. But, as the three officers walked back to their patrol car, Sheriff Whittle said Montgomery pulled out a 9mm AR Pistol that had been converted into a fully-automatic weapon. He opened fire, striking two of them.
Deputy Brandon Sikes was killed. Deputy Gavin White was shot in the face. Sheriff Whittle said White is alive, but in critical condition.
Multiple agencies – including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia State Patrol and two bomb squads – reported to the scene after Montgomery reportedly retreated to the motor home and led them into a standoff.
The responding officers used drones to scope out the scene. That's when they thought they spotted bomb materials inside the vehicle. They later determined those items were pipe bombs and other paraphernalia – including one that was rigged with a remote switch. There were also a number of guns, "numerous magazines" and boxes of additional ammo.
During the confrontation, Montgomery attempted to drive away, but veered off the roadway into cable barriers. He was found dead inside.
Local media reported that just two days before the shooting, Montgomery faced a judge who ordered him to turn over all his weapons to the sheriff's office.