Shootout in Habersham County Leaves Three Dead, Two Officers Injured

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell is recovering from a gunshot wound, his deputy hospitalized, after a shooting Sunday night that left three people dead.

It happened about 7;30p Sunday evening just outside of Clarkesville.

According to GBI Agent in charge Rusty Andrews, Sheriff Terrell and a deputy, identified as deputy Bill Zigan, responded to domestic call at a home on Lower Pond Court in the Winding Stair subdivision.

There, Andrews said, they found a woman dead inside the garage.

Terrell and deputy Zigan continued inside the house, but were ambushed by a man identified as Anthony Gianquinta.

Gianquinta, a former Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy, shot both Sheriff Terrell and the deputy multiple times, but both Sheriff Terrell and Zigan were able to return fire.  The Sheriff and the deputy were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.  Sheriff Terrell was treated and released, but deputy Zagin remains hospitalized.  His condition is not known.

Meantime, Gianquinta fled the scene in a vehicle, which he later abandoned. A four-hour search ensued by multiple law enforcement agencies, including Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas and his deputies.

“I had two with me, then at 4a this morning two more deputies came up to assist,” he said. “I had two more coming at 8a to relieve those two. All the deputies from surrounding counties were there. Sheriff Shirley from Stephens County and his deputies were there. Sheriff Mike Cleveland from Hart County and his deputies were there also.”

Gianquinta and another man were found dead at about 12:30a this morning behind a house.  The woman found in the garage is identified as Kathy Smith, Gianquinta’s ex-wife.

The second male found dead with Gianquinta has not yet been identified.

One of Smith’s two daughters was inside the house at the time of the shooting, but was able to flee.

Andrews said his office, Hall County authorities, along with Habersham County, the Georgia State Patrol and surrounding law enforcement agencies continue to assist Sheriff Terrell in the investigation.