CRISP COUNTY, Ga. — The Crisp County Sheriff's Office says an attempted carjacker is now in the hospital after getting shot.
First responders closed Highway 280 West for more than an hour while officers investigated.
The Sheriff's Office says Calvin Williams Jr., 40, stopped his gray Dodge Charger on the highway behind a road construction truck after leaving Sumter County.
Anthony Walker is a resident in Crisp County who works near the intersection of the shooting.
“Well, I hear about this stuff every day," Walker said. "I found out about the carjacking today at work."
He says if he was put in that situation, he would defend himself as well.
“They had every right to do what they did, somebody was trying to steal their things,” Walker said.
Sheriff Billy Hancock agreed. He said Williams attacked the workers and threatened to kill them unless they gave up the truck. He says one of the workers then shot Williams.
“[The] construction worker was saying, 'Please stop this. If you don't, I'm going to shoot you. Please stop,'" Hancock said. "The aggression continued and the construction worker fired one shot into the backseat of the automobile which struck the victim and the suspect."
In a prior incident, Sumter County authorities say they found drugs in Williams' car.
He's accused of hitting another car and driving off earlier on the day of the attempted carjacking. They say Williams was stable and communicating with authorities before being transported to the hospital.
“They were defending themselves to keep this man from doing any bodily harm or any more bodily harm to them,” Hancock said.
Sheriff Hancock says he appreciates his deputies and other agencies for arriving at the scene quickly.
“Today showed exactly how quick we can respond to incidents. It shows how well we work together,” Hancock said.
Residents like Anthony Walker say that makes them feel safe.
“I'm glad we have a good law enforcement in Crisp County. They do a good job,” Walker said.
Williams is from Albany and will face multiple charges including hijacking a motor vehicle and aggravated assault.