A man has taken his own life in the Snuffyville area on the outskirts of Summerville this (Tuesday) afternoon.  AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio spoke with Chattooga County Sheriff Ralph Kellett who stated the incident occured on James Street just off Highway 48 in Summerville.

According to the information we have at this time, a woman had come to the Sheriff’s department to make a complaint in a domestic dispute.  While the woman was at the Sheriff’s office an alert was put out for law enforcement officials to be on the lookout for the man she was making the complaint about.  City of Summerville Pollce spotted the man driving with a flat tire headed towards the outskirts of town. 

The man turned into the first driveway on James Street and got out of the vehicle.  At that time he fired at two Summerville Police officers, who returned fire.  Neither the officers nor the suspect were hit in the gunfire, however the man turned the gun on himself and put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.  Reports indicate the man’s name was Larry Smith, however law enforcement officials have not released the suspects name at this time.  Smith was transported to a Rome hospital where he died from the self inflicted wound.

Law enforcement officials say that the body was sent from Rome to the State Crime Lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.  Larry Keith Smith was 36 years old and lived on James Street in Summerville.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in Summerville.

Sheriff Kellett said that due to the fact that Summerville Police Officers had returned fire, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation into the incident.  Sheriff Kellett along with Summerville Police Chief Stan Mosely and GBI agents were on the scene late into the evening.  Stay tuned to AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio for continuing developements.