A 58-year-old Thomson man, identified as Robert Butler Jr., was killed early Monday after a high-speed chase ended in a crash in McDuffie County, authorities say. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed he was the suspect in an earlier reported armed robbery.
According to the McDuffie County Coroner’s Office, deputies were called to a dangerous situation shortly after 5:45 a.m. on Dallas Drive, following reports of an armed robbery involving Butler. When deputies attempted to pull him over, Butler fled — igniting a pursuit that lasted just minutes.
As the chase continued, Butler apparently lost control of his vehicle on a curve. The car overturned, and he was thrown into a nearby ditch. One deputy came to a stop in the eastbound lane to avoid a collision, while another veered into the same ditch — his patrol car ending up on top of Butler. Tragically, Butler was pronounced dead on the scene at around 6:45 a.m.
The GBI, which was already involved because of the earlier robbery, confirmed Butler was the suspect from that incident. Georgia State Patrol also joined the investigation of the crash, working alongside local law enforcement.
No details have been released by officials about the nature of the alleged armed robbery — such as what was stolen, who else might have been involved, or whether anyone was hurt during the incident.
The McDuffie County Coroner’s Office noted that Butler’s body is expected to undergo an autopsy later this week at the Georgia State Crime Lab.
As of now, the investigation remains active. Authorities have not publicly disclosed any charges, beyond confirming the robbery report and the fatal crash.
In a short but tense stretch of Dallas Drive, this morning’s events left a community shaken — and unanswered questions hanging in the air as the investigation moves forward.
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