2 arrested after shooting at deputies during chase

A Florida man and woman involved in a multi-county vehicle chase that included shooting at law enforcement officials and a standoff were taken into custody around 3 p.m. Thursday.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Steven Allen Shinholster II, 30, of Orange Park, Fla., and Brianna Michelle Long, 27, of Jacksonville, Fla., are facing multiple counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer in both Laurens and Wheeler counties. 

Both the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate the incident. Around 11:15 a.m. Thursday, two Laurens County deputies in one patrol vehicle attempted to stop a silver Equinox on U.S. 441 because they had been alerted that this vehicle had been taken in a carjacking in Jacksonville, Fla., and was believed to be in the area.

The deputy attempted to perform a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver, but Long, who was driving, was able to regain control of the vehicle. While still in Laurens County, Shinholster fired a gun toward the deputies. This continued into Wheeler County until Long drove through a stop sign at the intersection of 441 and U.S. 280 and crashed in a field. 

Following the crash, the suspects ran into the woods with Shinholster armed with a rifle. As deputies approached the woods, Shinholster shot at them again. A Laurens County deputy shot back, but neither of the suspects were hit.

During the standoff, a Georgia State Patrol vehicle was hit with the trooper inside after he responded to the scene. The trooper was not injured. 

A standoff went on for several hours before both suspects were arrested by GSP SWAT around 3 p.m. Thursday. No one was hurt during the incident.  

Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean thanked God for looking over everyone involved, and extended his thanks to all of the agencies that responded and helped bring everything to a safe outcome.

A statement on the LCSO’s Facebook page read, “To anyone who thinks they can harm our deputies or any of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement – know this: it will never work out for you. We stand united, and we will find you. Bringing violent offenders to justice is how we keep our communities safe.”