FORSYTH COUNTY, GA- A 20-year veteran sheriff’s deputy with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office was fatally shot on Saturday afternoon, in what investigators are calling a domestic related homicide. The shooting also left the victims teenage son wounded and the her boyfriend behind bars in connection to the violent acts.
According to information released by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 7:49 p.m., a 911 call was received from a resident in the Villages at Shakerag subdivision. The caller advised dispatchers that a neighbor had shown up at her door bleeding. The victim was described as a teenage male and stated this his mother and her boyfriend were arguing and the boyfriend was shooting a gun. The sheriff’s office says the neighbor applied pressure to the injured teenagers wounds until emergency responders arrived on the scene.
Forsyth County deputies say the arrived at the residence and attempted to contact anyone inside of the home, but received no response. Deputies entered the home in search of additional victims. The deputies were able to locate a female victim in an upstairs bedroom. The victims was deceased
The suspected shooter was not at the residence at the time the deputies arrived and searched the home. The suspect in the shooting had fled the scene in a vehicle prior to the arrival of law enforcement. The suspect in the shooting was identified as Eric Sumner, 43, of Suwanee, Georgia.
The suspect was located a short time later on Interstate 75 in Monroe County, Georgia. A brief chase took place on Interstate 75 and the suspect was apprehended and taken into custody by Monroe County law enforcement officers. Sumner was booked into the custody of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and is being held pending his transport back to Forsyth County to face charges.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Sumner will face charges of homicide-murder, and two counts of aggravated assault with intent to murder. There are additional charges pending in the case as it remains under investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the deceased victim in the shooting was a 20-year veteran deputy with the agency. The victim was identified as Master Deputy Tamara Tuitt-Bartlett.
“Master Deputy Tuitt-Bartlett served our community for nearly 20 years with unwavering dedication, compassion, and integrity, truly embodying the core values of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Her commitment to protecting and serving made a lasting impact on all who had the honor of knowing and working alongside her,” said Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor in a post on the agencies Facebook page.
The teenage shooting victim was transported to a area hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds. The victim is listed in stable condition.
“The loss of life to violence is senseless, but the loss of a law enforcement officer should hit home to every one of us in the community. I would like to personally thank the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for their wquick response in capturing this dangerous suspect,” said Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman.
The case remains under investigation by the Forsyth County Major Crimes Unit.
All Suspects Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty In A Court Of Law.
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