EVANS COUNTY, Ga. () — The Evans County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) announced that it conducted a three-day crime prevention operation in response to recent shootings in Claxton and surrounding areas.

After the shootings that occurred on Church St. and on Deloach Mill Rd., officials determined the suspects had ties to surrounding communities, including Evans County. This prompted Sheriff Randall Edwards to coordinate a three-day operation, “You Can’t Have Claxton,” with several agencies.

During the planning of the operation, officials found that shell casings recovered locally were consistent with those found in neighboring communities, linking the Evans County shootings with other incidents.

During the operation, law enforcement increased their presence in Claxton, Hagan and conducted safety checks at highways entering Evans County. Agencies made contact with residents to prevent further incidents, gather information and make arrests in connection with earlier shootings and other crimes.

The agencies involved included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Claxton Police and deputies from ECSO.