Deputy Sheriff Brandon Sikes - Columbia County Sheriff's Office - Georgia

On April 26, 2025, Deputy Sheriff Brandon Sikes (Columbia County Sheriff's Office - Georgia) was shot and killed during an attempted traffic stop just before exit 194 on Interstate 20, near Augusta, at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Deputy Sikes and three other deputies (one of them being a trainee with Sikes) were serving a domestic violence protective order on the subject. At first, the man was compliant and non-threatening, but when deputies turned away, he fired at them with a 9mm AR Pistol which had been converted to be full-auto. Deputy Sikes was mortally wounded. Deputy Sikes' trainee was shot in the face. Two deputies returned fire. One of the deputies gathered the injured deputy through a barrage of gunfire and transported him to the hospital, where he is in critical condition.

The suspect attempted to flee in his camper but was stopped on the highway. Hours later, drones found the suspect dead inside his camper with pipe bombs, firearms, and ammunition.

Deputy Sikes was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office for over six years. He is survived by his wife, who also serves with the agency, a daughter, parents, three brothers, nieces, and a nephew.

As part of our "Plaques for Heroes" campaign, engraved slate memorial plaques were sent to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and to Sikes' family at no cost to honor his service and his sacrifice to the community of Columbia County, Georgia.  Our condolences to his family, his department and the community he served.