HORTENSE – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigation a shooting involving two GBI Special Agents following an interview on Drury Court in Hortense.
Edmond Leaon West, age 49, of Hortense shot at the two agents. Neither agent was injured in the incident, according to the GBI press released dated Tuesday, November 4.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 11:45 a.m., Friday, October 31, 2025, GBI Agents from the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Kingsland were at West residence on Drury Court. They were on site interviewing West in connection with an ongoing child molestation investigation.
As the interview ended, West ran from the agents and shot at them twice before running into the woods behind the home.
While GBI Agents and Brantley County Sheriff’s Office Deputies formed a perimeter around the property, they heard another gunshot which appeared to come from the woods.
After searching the home and property, West was located with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was life-flighted to Jacksonville, Fla., for advanced trauma care. He later succumbed to his injuries.
The Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia State Patrol responded to assist.
This investigation is being conducted by the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Douglas led by Special Agent in Charge Jason Seacrist and is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 4626141 or the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at (912) 3894103.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/s ubmit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
