MACON, Ga. — Utay Thomas has lived at Pendleton Homes most of his life and says the area is mostly quiet. He says he doesn't condone the violence he heard Monday afternoon.
"I was just chilling and I heard some gunshots and ran," Thomas said
Around 11 a.m., deputies were responding to a stolen vehicle reported to them by a flock camera. Sheriff David Davis says after deputies pulled the car over, one man got out and fired shots at deputies.
Josiah Smith was outside talking with friends when he heard the gunshots. He said he said he ran across the street.
Deputies fired back hitting the shooter. Davis could not confirm if these were teenagers in the car.
"They are younger individuals. There were some individuals that one of the occupants ran to one of the apartments just behind where the vehicle stop happened," Davis said.
The GBI and other investigators were on the scene. The gang unit was searching some homes in Pendleton Homes.
"Some of those there is some indication that there be some gang involvement with some of the folks that were in the apartment that the individuals that had been in the car ran to," Davis said.
We've reported on several shootings along Houston Avenue near Pendleton homes. Most recently last week when 44-year-old Tarvores Pearson was fatally shot. Smith says he stays away from the violence.
"I don't know nothing about that at all. Because all I do is work, go home, go to church," Smith said.
The man who spoke to 13WMAZ said people should protect themselves in violent situations but people who live at Pendleton Homes keep to themselves.
"It's really ok if you carry if you want to but it's a lot of safety over here," Thomas said. "We safe, we very safe."