Abdullahi Indicted on Homicide by Vehicle in Death of Franklin County Deputy

The man authorities say is responsible for the death of a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy has been indicted by a Franklin County Grand Jury.

21-year old Abdulhafiz Tawfik Abdullahi, of Lawrenceville, was indicted on one count of homicide by vehicle in the second degree, failure to maintain lane, and driving too fast for conditions.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Chief Investigator Jimmy LeCroy, on Sunday evening, July 19, Deputy William “Bill” Garner was working a wreck on I-85 at Exit 164 at around 7:15p when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

LeCroy said the vehicle, a 2018 Honda Accord driven by Aduullahi, left the road and struck Deputy Garner who was working a wreck in the center median.

EMS arrived and worked on Garner at the scene, then transported him to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia where he died from his injuries.

Abdullahi was released several days later from the Franklin County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.

Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas said at the time his bond comes with a number of conditions.

“There’s are conditions that he may not leave the State of Georgia, that he turn his passport in and he had to sign a waiver of extradition. If he’s notified of a court appearance he has to appear. If not and he leaves the state then he’d be in violation and we can pick him without having to sign other extradition papers,” Thomas explained.

Deputy Garner was 53-years old and leaves behind a wife, parents, and a brother.

LeCroy said Garner had only been with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office for a year.