Augusta, GA: Sheriff describes shooting at Augusta Manor as "clean"

by Eric Johnson, December 8th 02:49pm
AUGUSTA, GA – At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength defended the actions of one of his deputies in an early morning shooting that left a North Augusta man dead.

“There is no doubt in my mind as we speak that this is a clean shooting,” Strength said.

According to Strength, the incident began when Bobby Melvin Flippo, 34, forced his girlfriend, their two children and a male acquaintance into a car at gunpoint and made the girlfriend drive from North Augusta into Richmond County.

The woman pulled into a gas station at Gordon Highway and Old Savannah Road and attempted to escape with her two children, ages five and eight months, succeeding in getting the five year old out of the car before Flippo began driving away.

The unidentified male fled the scene.

At approximately 3:45 a.m., Deputy Corey Carlyle drove by, heard gunshots, and saw the woman hanging from the car as it drove away. He immediately gave chase, learning during the pursuit that a child was in the vehicle.

Flippo pulled into the Augusta Manor apartment complex on Highway 56, exited the car with a handgun, then returned to the vehicle, put the gun to his head and told deputies he was going to kill himself.

“The suspect then told deputies he was going to kill the child that was in the vehicle,” Strength said. “When the suspect turned and reached for the child, Carlyle fired his weapon.”

Flippo was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the head. Strength said they won’t know until an autopsy is performed and the crime lab has completed its investigation whether Flippo was hit twice by Carlyle or whether he was hit once by Carlyle and once by himself.

Following procedure, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate. During the investigation, Carlyle will be on administrative duty.
Strength said Carlyle’s actions may have saved the child’s life.

“When he threatened to kill that child, that deputy doesn’t get to ride down here and think about what he wants to do and go back,” Strength said. “He has to make that split second decision, and the deputy made the right decision.”