A suspected armed robber died early Monday morning following a high-speed pursuit in Thomson, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred on the 1500 block of Dallas Drive around 6 a.m., when the McDuffie County Coroner’s Office was called to a motor vehicle accident.
The victim has been identified as Robert Butler Jr., 58, of Thomson. Officials say the chase began shortly after 5:45 a.m., when deputies responded to a reported armed robbery involving Butler. During an attempted traffic stop, he fled, prompting a pursuit by two McDuffie County deputies.
Authorities reported that Butler lost control of his vehicle on a curve, causing it to overturn and eject him into a nearby ditch. One deputy stopped in the eastbound lane to avoid a collision, while the other veered into the ditch, where his patrol car came to rest on top of Butler. Emergency personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene at 6:45 a.m.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation responded to the original robbery scene and confirmed Butler as the suspect. The Georgia State Patrol assisted with the crash investigation. The coroner’s office said Butler’s body is scheduled for autopsy later this week at the Georgia State Crime Lab.
Authorities have not released further details on the armed robbery, and the investigation remains ongoing.
