It all started after a Flock camera identified a vehicle on Russell Parkway suspected in a deadly shooting at Palmetto Elementary School.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Centerville man suspected of killing a woman outside a Fulton County elementary school was arrested Tuesday after a chase in Houston County, which stretched into Twiggs County and shut down State Route 96 for hours. 

Houston County Capt. Clay Chambers says Christopher Ates, 39, of Centerville was arrested after the chase. He says Ates is believed to be the suspect in the shooting at Palmetto Elementary School in Fulton County earlier that day.

A Flock camera identified the vehicle suspected in the Palmetto shooting in Houston County Tuesday afternoon, heading east on Russell Parkway near Georgia Highway 41, according to Warner Robins Police.

After they tried to pull Ates over on Russell Parkway, police say Ates sped off.

Warner Robins Police handed the chase over to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. They say Ates turned onto Highway 247, then took Highway 96 in Twiggs County.


They say the chase ended after Ates slammed into a semi-truck in Twigg. That caused Ates to strike a guardrail and drive into an embankment.

Ates ran into the woods, but deputies caught him and booked him into the Houston County Jail. 

According to jail records, Ates is facing several charges, including reckless driving and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. 

Charges in the Fulton County shooting are not available at this time. 

Ates was also charged with cruelty to children after a child was found in the back of the car. Deputies heard the child crying from the back seat after the accident.

According to 13WMAZ sister station 11ALIVE, Fulton County School’s says the fatal shooting started as a domestic dispute on school property. No students or staff were hurt.