Deputy Sheriff Eric Minix, 31, from Coweta County, Georgia, was killed in a high-speed police pursuit that began in his home county and extended into Chambers County, Alabama. The fatal incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, January 4, 2024, on Interstate 85.
A committed member of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Minix was part of a multi-agency operation chasing a stolen vehicle. As he attempted to apprehend the suspect, Minix was hit by a patrol car from the Lanett Police Department, Alabama, while exiting his vehicle. Officer Cornelius J. Robinson, who was driving the police car that hit Minix, has been put on administrative leave during an ongoing investigation.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is conducting an investigation into the incident. The primary focus is on the events leading up to the high-speed pursuit and the subsequent collision that led to Deputy Minix’s untimely death. The motive for the chase of the stolen vehicle, driven by Decedric Donson, 25, from Pensacola, Florida, is yet to be made clear.
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement expressing their heartfelt grief over the loss of Deputy Minix. They remembered him as a dedicated deputy and a valued friend, known for his role as a K-9 officer and his amicable demeanor.
Following the incident, Donson, the driver of the stolen vehicle, was apprehended after stop sticks were deployed. He now faces charges relating to the stolen vehicle and evading law enforcement.
Deputy Minix is survived by a devastated family, which includes his wife and their three daughters.