Man shot by deputy allegedly planned to kill his wife

A Lamar County deputy shot a man about 12:49 p.m. Thursday, following a high-speed chase near Lamar County High School, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

Tyler Walker Pitts of Thomaston was wanted on aggravated stalking charges related to his wife, who worked in Barnesville, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Barnesville is about 50 miles south of Atlanta.

Witnesses told police Pitts planned to kill his wife at work, Channel 2 reported.

VIDEO: GBI investigates officer-involved shooting in Lamar County

The local high school was on lockdown briefly while deputies chased the suspect.

Tipsters told police Pitts threatened to “take as many officers out with him” if authorities stopped him, Lamar County Sheriff Brad White said.

“That came from a third party caller, but certainly that information was relayed back to us,” White said.

When five deputies caught up with Pitts in Lamar County, Pitts refused to stop his red SUV.

Barnesville police officers joined the chase, which ended after spike strips disabled Pitts’ car.

“Pitts then opened fire on the deputies and the deputies returned fire, striking Mr. Pitts,” White said.

Pitts had an AR-15 style rifle that was confiscated by officials when he was arrested, Channel 2 reported.

A helicopter took Pitts to Macon Medical Hospital. No further information about his condition was available, but he appeared to have been shot near the hand. White said Pitts had been shot multiple times.

No deputies or officers were hit during the shootout.

White said Pitts is expected to recover and will be booked in the county jail when he is released from the hospital.