Lee County man shot by deputy will face charges

"We will be filing charges against Christopher Blake Terry, 29 years old," Rachals said Wednesday. "The charges are felony damage to property, second degree; family violence, that would be two times; and simple assault and family violence for the domestic issue. The charges on the shooting are aggravated assault and possession of a knife or firearm while in the commission of a crime."

Reports issued by the Lee Sheriff's Office indicate the incident began around 10:17 a.m. when Emergency Medical Services was called to a domestic violence issue at 173A Keyridge Drive. Shortly after arriving, EMS personnel called LSO requesting a deputy's assistance at the residence.

"EMS was called out by the family because of injuries that Terry had caused to himself during the domestic violence issue," Rachals said. "There was a girlfriend involved and a mama involved."

Deputy Danny Alday responded to the call and arrived to find an aggressive male subject, later identified as Terry, wielding a knife and not responding to the officer's instructions, the sheriff said.

"Deputy Alday requested backup after arriving on the scene because the person was carrying a knife, not following the officer's orders and advancing on the officer," Rachals said. "The officer felt threatened enough that he took some shots at (the suspect)."

According to Rachals, Alday actually fired his weapon nine times, striking Terry with four of those bullets. At least one of the officer-fired bullets went through a neighbor's home and shattered the windshield of his car parked in an adjacent garage.

"Before I knew what was going on, I was bringing in groceries and I noticed there was debris where my car is in the garage," Spring Lake Estates resident Bill Barber said. When I looked, I saw the windshield was shattered. You could clearly see where the bullet had gone through."

"One of the bullets did go through a garage, hit a vehicle and then dropped," Rachals confirmed Wednesday.

GBI officials were called in to investigate and could be seen Tuesday performing a forensic-style investigation of the surrounding area in an attempt to locate the other five bullets fired by Alday.

Although no comment was made about either Alday's marksmanship or possible excessive use of force, Rachals was implicit in his opinion that Alday acted according to regulations and said it was ultimately up to the district attorney whether or not charges would be brought against the deputy.

"Well, my view of it, I do not believe there will be any charges brought against Deputy Alday," Rachals said. "Of course, I won't know until all the paperwork is turned in to the D.A.'s office and they have a chance to review everything. It will be up to them if they feel like there needs to be any charges brought against the officer. I feel pretty confident. It was an unfortunate shooting, but it happens."

According to officials, Terry is currently at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital recovering and is in stable condition.