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BURKE COUNTY, Ga. () – On the afternoon of April 7th, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office took to social media to inform the community about a critical incident near Walmart and Tractor Supply Co. at 300 Hopkins Corner Drive, Waynesboro, GA. The update was posted at 12:58 p.m., alerting residents to an active emergency in the vicinity.
Authorities confirmed the presence of an armed individual as the source of the incident.
Deputies had initially been called to Tractor Supply Co. following reports of a theft. Upon arrival, they encountered Tommy Browner Jr. The situation intensified around 12:23 p.m. when Browner brandished a firearm and threatened self-harm, leading to a tense standoff with law enforcement in the parking area.
To manage the situation, the Special Response Team and a Crisis Negotiator were called in to provide support.
By 2:19 p.m., officials announced the peaceful resolution of the standoff. A spokesperson stated that Browner surrendered after officers deployed less-lethal rounds and he was subsequently transported to a local hospital for medical care.
The area has since been reopened.
