Welcome to The True Crime Pod. Tonight's episode contains descriptions of gun violence and death. Listener discretion is advised.

On a seemingly routine Saturday evening in Georgia, two deputies set out to conduct what should have been a standard traffic stop. Within moments, their lives - and the lives of countless others - would be forever changed.

It was six thirty in the evening on the twenty-seventh of April, two thousand and twenty-five. Interstate 20 was busy with weekend travelers near Exit 194 when Columbia County deputies attempted to serve a temporary protective order during a traffic stop. Their target? James Blake Montgomery, traveling in an RV. What happened next would send shockwaves through multiple communities.

Without warning, Montgomery opened fire on the officers. In the chaos that followed, one deputy lost their life, while another was rushed to the hospital. Montgomery fled the scene in his RV, leading to an immediate shutdown of the interstate in both directions. Law enforcement agencies from across the region converged on the area, including the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, and Georgia State Patrol. Drones were deployed as they surrounded Montgomery's vehicle.

But perhaps the most revealing insight into this tragedy comes from Montgomery's own brother-in-law, David Guillebeau. In an exclusive interview just hours after the incident, he painted a picture of a man who had seemingly transformed beyond recognition. 'This isn't the Blake that I knew,' he said, struggling to reconcile the violent actions with his memories of the man he once knew.

The impact of this incident rippled through the community. Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson spoke for many when he expressed his heartbreak, honoring the sacrifice of these officers while acknowledging the difficult days ahead. Law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions united in their grief and support, from Richmond County to Wagener, from Barnwell to Waynesboro.

As Guillebeau poignantly reminded us, there are people on both ends who are hurting - the families of the officers, the community they served, and even those connected to Montgomery himself. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of how quickly routine law enforcement duties can turn deadly, and the ripple effects such incidents have throughout our communities.

If you've been affected by the events discussed in this episode, support resources are available through your local law enforcement victim services. For updates on this developing story, visit thetruecrimepod.com. Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, and join us next time on The True Crime Pod. Stay safe, and remember - behind every badge is a human being, and behind every story are real lives forever changed.