Police Officer Shot Dead, Another Injured During Traffic Stop, as Suspect's Family Says 'This Isn't the Person' They 'Knew'

• A police officer was killed and another was injured during a traffic stop in Georgia on April 26
• The alleged suspect was identified by police as James Blake Montgomery
• Montgomery’s brother-in-law told local media after the incident, “This isn’t the person that I knew”

A police officer was shot dead and another was injured during a traffic stop in Georgia.

The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. local time in Columbia County on Interstate 20 near Belair Road on Saturday, April 26, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said during a press conference, per WJBF.

Officers approached a man – who was identified by police as James Blake Montgomery — in an RV in the area, in order to serve him a restraining order tied to domestic violence.

Despite initially complying, authorities said Montgomery then opened the door of the RV and began shooting, killing the one deputy, Brandon Sikes. The other officer, Gavin White, was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and is continuing to receive treatment, the CCSO said.

Sykes had been a deputy since 2018 on the crime suppression team. His wife is also an employee of the CCSO, police said.

Authorities said Montgomery then retreated into the RV and attempted to drive away, but was unsuccessful. Police later determined that Montgomery “was deceased” in the RV. It is not currently known how exactly he died.

A police robot and drones eventually found possible pipe bombs and possible drug paraphernalia in the mobile home.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, April 27.

Speaking with WRDW, an eyewitness said, “I was just outside, you know, sitting outside, and all of a sudden I just heard, sounded like some fire popper – pop-pop-pop-pop.”

They added: “Then about two or three minutes later, I heard sirens and come to find out […] they were having a shoot-out right here on I-20.”

Sources told WRDW that Montgomery had been working landscaping jobs while living in his RV. Another insider told the outlet that he had been living separately from his wife, with whom he shares a child, for at least several months.

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Georgia governor Brian Kemp reacted to the incident on X, writing that he and his family “are praying for the loved ones and colleagues of the Columbia County sheriffs deputy that has fallen in the line of duty, as well as his fellow law enforcement officer injured tonight while protecting his fellow Georgians.”

“As they remain in our hearts and prayers, we’re also painfully reminded of why those who wear a badge have more than earned our enduring respect and appreciation,” he added.

Local news outlet WJBF spoke to the suspect’s brother-in-law, David Guillebeau, after the incident.

“I haven’t talked to him in quite some time, but this isn’t the person that I knew,” Guillebeau told the outlet.

He continued: “And I don’t defend him, because this is undependable and inexcusable, but the person I knew back then wouldn’t. This wasn’t him. So something has changed in him for him to do this.”

“I would love for people to just remember that he has a child and he has a family that’s here locally. … So do the officers as well. But we’re all hurting,” Guillebeau also said. “There’s people on both ends that are hurting.”