Man shot, killed by Paulding deputy wasn’t original warrant subject

The man shot to death Thursday by Paulding County deputies was not the person they originally were seeking when they went to the residence, authorities said Friday.

Deputies went to the 200 block of Township Drive in Hiram to serve a warrant on Lelia Sierra Duncan, 27, for methamphetamine trafficking and other charges, sheriff’s Sgt. Ashley Henson said Friday in a news release.

Duncan was not at the location, but deputies did find Brandon Lee Bohanan, 35, who had active warrants out of Paulding and Gwinnett counties, according to the release.

A series of events resulted in Bohanan being fatally shot by Paulding deputy David Martin, Henson said.

Deputies went to the basement, where Bohanan was known to stay. They found a room with a heavily fortified locked door, announced their presence, and eventually had to use a battering ram to force the door open.

When deputies entered the room, which was dark, they found Bohanan and a woman, identified as Emelia Alys Blehm, 36.

Blehm complied with deputies’ commands to show their hands and get on the ground, Henson said. Bohanan came toward deputies in an “aggressive manner” and would not show his hands.

Martin fired one shot, hitting Bohanan. Deputies gave aid but couldn’t save him.

Bohanan’s family was emotional about his death.

“They killed him. They just cold-blooded murdered my baby,” Bonahan's mother, Renee Taylor, told Channel 2 Action News.

Bohanan’s family said he did not own a gun, and police told Channel 2 he did not fire a weapon Thursday.

The GBI is investigating the incident, which is normal in officer-involved shootings. The results will be turned over to the Paulding Judicial Circuit district attorney.

Martin has been placed on paid administrative leave during the GBI investigation.

Deputies arrested Blehm and two other people at the residence on unrelated charges, Henson said. Duncan is still at large.

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