Manhunt suspect arrested after shooting officer, witnesses recount small-town tragedy

From Local 3 News: McCaysville police say Captain Brantley Worley was responding to a suspicious person call shortly after 11:00 on First Street. Just moments later, gunshots rang.

"I heard banging and it sounded like it was right in my backyard or up against my house, and I'm wondering what the heck is going on?,” says McCaysville resident Sue Richardson. “I looked out the window and didn't see anything, and I heard a few more bangs, and I thought, ‘oh those are gunshots.’"
 
Richardson says she didn’t think much of the sudden gunfire, assuming someone was open-firing or shooting at deer, until she heard helicopters begin circling overhead around 30 minutes later.

“I kept looking out my window, like, ‘what’s going on?'” she says.

Timothy Ramsey, suspected shooter of McCaysville cop, ran from the scene wearing a bright green chemical-resistant type suit, GBI says.


GBIAnother resident in the city says he was inside his home, just feet away from the road where the incident took place–when he heard multiple shots being fired.

"I went outside, and that's when I saw the officer laying on the ground,” says Jake Born, a McCaysville resident.
Jake Born tells Local 3 him and his family are thankful for Captain Worley's brave sacrifice.


Police say Ramsey took off on foot, and it wasn't until officers received a tip around 6:00 Saturday evening of a person matching Ramsey's description. Officers found Ramsey and arrested him without struggle in a wooded area near Bethel church, a few miles from where he fled.

"I was not going to leave until we apprehended the subject,” Chief Earley says. “That was the mindset we all had today–federal level, state level and local level–we were not going to leave until we apprehended him.”

Chief Michael Earley addresses the media shortly after McCaysville manhunt ends.


McCaysville Police Chief Mike Earley says he spoke with Officer Worley's wife after the arrest. She says her husband is in critical condition at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.

Many residents, like Born, can't help but admire the bravery of Officer Worley in a situation he says he never would have imagined take place in his home city.

Captain Brantley Worley was responding to a call about a suspicious person when he was shot in the face.


Last night, Officer Worley put himself between whoever that lunatic was and my kids, because my daughter's bedroom window is 15 feet from where this all happened,” he says. “I’m very thankful for him and for what he did, because you never know what could have happened had he not showed up.”

Richardson says she’s had a few encounters with Captain Worley herself and describes him, and the entire department, as compassionate and always willing to help those around them.

Sue Richardson heard gunshots after 11:00pm Friday night just outside her home.


“They’re right there when you need them,” she says.

For many, in the small-knit McCaysville community and beyond, it was a powerful realization in light of recent events.

"These things don't happen here at all. When it does, it's kind of sobering. It puts it into perspective, especially with the week we've already had,” says regarding the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Chief Earley says throughout his time with McCaysville Police, the city has never experienced such a tragedy inflicted on one of their officers.

"When we answer that 911 call, we're not going there to get shot in the face,” Chief Earley says. “I think we all know, over the past week, the violence that's happening in this country–it needs to stop. It needs to stop right now. My guys should not be going to a suspicious person's call, and upon their arrival, get shot in the face."
 
Captain Worley is now in stable condition, but the brain bleed has not changed. Doctors are considering surgery, as his broken nose is making it difficult to breathe.

McCaysville Police say the suspect has a criminal history, and the GBI is taking over the investigation. Ramsey is in the Fannin County Jail facing charges including aggravated assault with the intent to commit murder against a police officer.