Shots fired after multi-county chase ends along I-20 in DeKalb County

A police chase that started in one Georgia county, ended in a crash and confrontation in another. 

Traffic along Interstate 20 in DeKalb County came to standstill Thursday morning after a suspect Rockdale County deputies were chasing crashed just before Wesley Chapel Road.

Rockdale County Sheriff's Office Lt. LeJohn Tate says the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Tevin Bass, was wanted on a charge of aggravates assault on a law enforcement officer from a traffic crash two days before. Investigators say the Bass tried to run into a deputy head-on, and ultimately did not stop on Tuesday. Warrants were issued for his arrest soon after.

Tevin Bass (Rockdale County Sheriff's Office).

Tevin Bass (Rockdale County Sheriff's Office).

Thursday morning around 9:20 a.m., deputies spotted the same gray Jeep Cherokee on Smyrna Road with Bass behind the wheel. Deputies tried to pull him over, but Bass instead led deputies on a two-county, 10-mile chase along surface streets at high speeds.

"I know the highest speed was 80 mph. The driver did strike two vehicles." Tate confirmed.

The chase ended when investigators say the Bass popped a tire, jumped out on I-20 eastbound, crossed the median, and headed into the woods.

According to the GBI, Bass was shot by a deputy while reaching for a gun - which officials say was recovered at the scene. 

SKYFOX 5 over scene of a police chase that ended in a crash on I-20 West (FOX 5 Atlanta).

SKYFOX 5 over scene of a police chase that ended in a crash on I-20 West (FOX 5 Atlanta).

Bass was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and taken into custody.

This is the 19th officer-involved shooting Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to investigate this year.

The interstate was closed for about an hour to clear the scene.