Crime
50-year-old Carrie Hall shot and killed by law enforcement in Bartow County
BARTOW COUNTY, GA — A woman was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in Bartow County on Wednesday night following a confrontation during a felony traffic stop, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Carrie Hall of Cartersville.
According to the GBI, the incident began when Hall allegedly arrived at a residence in Bartow County and discharged a firearm.
The homeowner, who was familiar with Hall, was able to identify her and provided her name to responding deputies from the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 8:40 p.m., Bartow County deputies, assisted by an officer from the Cartersville Police Department, located Hall’s vehicle near the intersection of State Route 20/Canton Highway and Conference Center Drive in Cartersville.
Based on the earlier report involving gunfire, law enforcement initiated a felony traffic stop.
During the stop, authorities say Hall exited her vehicle armed with a firearm. Deputies and the officer reportedly issued multiple verbal commands instructing her to drop the weapon.
According to law enforcement accounts provided to GBI agents during post-incident interviews, Hall did not comply with those commands.
At some point during the standoff, deputies and the officer discharged their weapons.
Specific details about the moments immediately preceding the gunfire—such as what prompted the initial shot—have not yet been disclosed by the GBI.
Hall sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is actively reviewing the incident as part of a standard officer-involved shooting investigation.
Once complete, the case will be turned over to the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office for review.
No officers were injured during the encounter.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.