Over the July 4, 2019, holiday weekend, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office responded to and was investigating a series of burglaries and other crimes, including one where approximately 40 firearms were stolen. On July 7, while on patrol, Deputy Nicolas Dixon attempted to stop a stolen vehicle that was believed to have been used in the crimes. The suspect vehicle tried to flee, but it wrecked, at which point four suspects fled on foot.
After a brief pursuit by foot, Deputy Dixon located one of the suspects behind a residence on Highland Avenue in Gainesville. When the suspect was instructed to come out from behind the residence and to show his hands, he opened fire on Deputy Dixon, firing multiple rounds. Deputy Dixon exchanged gunfire with the suspect, striking him five times. Deputy Dixon was shot once by the suspect and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he later succumbed from his injury. The assailant was wounded and taken into custody by other responding deputies, and the other three suspects were later apprehended at other residences in the area.
Deputy Nicolas Dixon faced a clear and imminent danger as he attempted to apprehend the one suspect. He demonstrated great courage in the face of a violent and unprovoked assault and succeeded in incapacitating the assailant, preventing him from threatening and injuring the other deputies and citizens in the area.
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