Suspect in Georgia officer's fatal shooting captured
Emily Beck
Published Apr 12, 2026
The man accused of shooting and killing a police officer has been captured.
EASTMAN, Ga. -- The man accused of shooting and killing a police officer has been captured. This after authorities offered $15,000 for information that leads to his capture.
The suspect is 24-year-old Royheem Delshawn Deeds. He was captured in Nassau County, Florida in the city of Hilliard early Monday. His sister, Frashawn Shanae Deeds, and a passenger, Jamil Mitchell, were also arrested.
The U.S. Marshal alerted the Sheriff's Office to the possibility of the suspect fleeing toward Gainesville. After a deputy spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle, he and another deputy made a traffic stop.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said they were captured in a traffic stop while traveling on U.S. 1.
"A deputy observed the vehicle traveling southbound, and called another deputy and they both stopped the vehicle," Leeper said.
The sister was driving the vehicle and another man was in the passenger seat. Authorities did not know the relationship between the passenger and the driver.
After the driver and passenger were taken out of the vehicle, police found the suspect in the trunk.
All three were taken into custody without incident. Shanae Deeds and Mitchell were charged with hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.
Royhem Delshawn Deeds was charged in the officer's murder.
Their first appearances were Monday morning where they waived extradition. The suspects are now waiting for Georgia authorities to pick them up.
"The Eastman Georgia officer was doing his job and he was killed as a result of that so it's very sad when that happens but it's certainly a very good day when we can find the individual that did it and arrest him." Leeper said.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, officer Tim Smith was responding to reports of a suspicious person call in Eastman around 9 p.m. Saturday. When Smith got to the location, authorities say he got out of his patrol car to investigate and had a conversation with Deeds. That's when Deeds pulled out a gun and shot Smith.
The GBI says Smith returned fire as Deeds fled the scene.
Smith, who had been with the Eastman Police Department since 2011, was transported to an area hospital, but he later died.
He was 31 years old and is survived by three children.
PHOTOS | Eastman Police Officer Tim Smith
In an update to media, agent Scott Whitley with the GBI said Smith wasn't wearing a body camera and called in his injuries.
VIDEO | GBI gives updates on fatal Eastman officer shooting
Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI at 478-374-6988.
Photos | Mugs shots
WTLV and WMAZ contributed to this report
