Full Breakdown
Sgt. Chris Fisher Killed After Prior Use of Force in Warm Springs
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
In early September 2026, Warm Springs Police Sergeant Chris Fisher, 36, was shot and killed while seated in his patrol car at the Meriwether Country Inn parking lot. Five days earlier, Fisher had arrested Jimmy Lee Steverson, 23, at a Marathon gas station on suspicion of marijuana possession. During that encounter Fisher punched Steverson and deployed a Taser, after which Steverson fled. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) reports that Steverson later returned in a Chevrolet Silverado, aligned his vehicle with Fisher’s patrol car, and fired multiple rounds into the vehicle, killing Fisher at the scene. The following day Steverson was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a traffic stop in South Carolina.
Department Turmoil
Fisher’s death occurred while the Warm Springs Police Department was still recovering from a 2024 scandal that led to the dismissal of Chief Emilio Quintana and the suspension of 11 officers. Interim chief Aisha Al-Khalifa was later arrested in May 2026 on charges of false statements and violation of oath of office. The city’s police directory lists Matthew Mayfield as interim chief effective March 4, 2026. The GBI has not linked the earlier misconduct investigation to Fisher’s shooting.
Official Statements & Responses
Fisher admitted on body-camera footage that he had used physical force, stating, “He’s got a Taser in his ear, a Taser prong in his ear,” and later added, “And I punched him in the face a couple times.” He also told fellow officers that Steverson resisted, swung at him, and that he had punched Steverson before deploying the Taser. The GBI’s preliminary account confirms the shooting and notes that its investigation remains active, though a motive has not been publicly identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He’s got a Taser in his ear, a Taser prong in his ear,” — Sgt. Chris Fisher
- “And I punched him in the face a couple times.” — Sgt. Chris Fisher
What We Know
- Fisher was a recent promotion, having joined Warm Springs Police in May 2026 and become sergeant in July.
- Steverson faced charges of marijuana possession, firearm possession during a crime, and obstruction of a law-enforcement officer; he posted a combined $10,000 bond and spent roughly 12–14 hours in custody before release.
- Body-camera footage contains a 20-second gap during the initial arrest, and additional surveillance video from the gas station was unavailable after the station erased its recordings.
The GBI continues to investigate both the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the earlier arrest.