Forsyth identifies deputy who shot suspected bank robber

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By LARRY HARTSTEIN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed a suspected bank robber Monday is Sgt. William Weeks, a patrol supervisor who has been with the department since 2002, the Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Sgt. William Weeks, 32, shot and killed a suspected bank robber on Monday. He is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Suspected bank robber killed

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Weeks, 32, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Weeks shot James M. Kenny, 50, of Cumming, in a Texaco parking lot on Ga. Highway 9.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Kenny got out of his van with what appeared to be a handgun. Weeks shot Kenny after he failed to obey Weeks’ order to drop the weapon, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Sheriff Ted Paxton said cash and other evidence linking Kenny to a bank robbery 10 minutes earlier were found in his van, which had “Professional Painting by James Kenny” on its side.

Nancy Parks told the Forsyth County News that she was the only customer inside the Wachovia Bank on Bethelview Road when a man came in wearing sunglasses and a cloth covering his head.

“He walked in and went right to the next teller and that’s when he pulled the gun and jumped over the counter,” Parks told the newspaper. “He told the girl he wanted the money...he grabbed a bunch of money, jumped back over the counter and went right out.”

Following the 1 p.m. robbery, officers were given a description of Kenny and his van. Sgt. Weeks spotted it around 1:10 p.m. and followed the van to the gas station.

Weeks fired at least two shots, and Kenny was pronounced dead at the scene. As is standard procedure, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting.

It was the first shooting involving a sheriff’s deputy in more than three years, the Forsyth County News reported.

Weeks is a patrol supervisor assigned to the South Precinct.