The night on Bloomfield Road in Macon moved fast and ended in loss. Joshua Epps, 35, is dead after a deputy-involved shooting tied to a domestic disturbance call that turned violent inside a home.
It started with a 911 call reporting that someone had been injured at a residence in the 5800 block of Bloomfield Road. Deputies arrived around 8:43 p.m. and found a 51-year-old man who had been attacked with scissors during an argument inside the home.
The injured man was treated at the scene. His injuries were not considered life-threatening. The situation, however, was far from over when deputies made contact with Epps.
Authorities say Epps was still holding scissors when officers encountered him. Commands were given for him to drop the weapon, but he allegedly moved toward a deputy instead of complying.
A deputy fired his weapon during the confrontation. Epps was struck and taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
No deputies were hurt during the incident. The injured 51-year-old man survived and received medical attention at the scene before being released from immediate danger.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and seeing emergency lights fill the street. What was a quiet evening quickly turned into confusion, fear, and flashing police response across the neighborhood.
Officials have confirmed that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an independent review. The sheriff’s office internal unit is also conducting its own investigation, and the deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave.
The incident is being treated as stemming from a domestic-related disturbance, though investigators are still working to piece together the exact sequence of what happened inside the home and outside on the street.
Family and friends are now left with grief and unanswered questions as they remember Joshua Epps and try to understand how a night of conflict ended in a fatal shooting.
