Update: Man Shot by Deputy a Cumming Resident

He is expected to survive after allegedly pointing a “lever-action rifle” at the deputy, who fired at Nielson before the Cumming man could. The deputy has not been identified yet and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office did issue the following statement on Friday:

On June 26, just before 4 p.m., a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on regular patrol in the north end of the county. The deputy was checking an undeveloped subdivision on Hopewell Road near Hubbard Town Road and observed a parked dark in color pick-up truck. When the deputy drove by the truck, he observed a male later identified as 46 year-old Jeffery Todd Nielson of Cumming, holding a rifle. As the deputy exited his patrol vehicle, Nielson also exited. Nielson then made the rifle ready to fire by working a lever action and pointed the rifle at the deputy. The deputy drew his sidearm and fired, striking Nielson.

Nielson was given immediate medical aid and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. He is expected to recover and is stable condition at this time.

The deputy involved has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is normal procedure for these incidents. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations is investigating the shooting.

Department spokesman Robin Regan said the incident happened around 4 p.m. near the area of Hopewell and Hubbard Town roads. That’s when the deputy encountered the man described by Regan as “emotionally distraught” in a pickup truck.

The man reportedly exited the vehicle with the weapon and pointed it at the officer as he approached. The deputy then opened fire and shot the suspect, who did not fire his weapon.

The 46-year-old man was taken to North East Regional Medical Center in Gainesville and is expected to recover. Neither he nor the deputy, who was not injured, has been identified.

The deputy has been put on routine paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.