WR man struck, killed in Monday shootout

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Michael Cooper, 41, of Warner Robins, was shot Monday while driving in Warner Robins. He was transported to Houston Medical Center where, despite medical staff attempts to stabilize him, he succumbed to his injuries.

The Warner Robins Police Department is currently investigating the shooting and subsequent crash. The Journal spoke with Lt. Eric Gossman for more details.

WRPD got the call just after 7:30 p.m. notifying them of a person shot. When they arrived at the scene, the found the victim’s vehicle, a Nissan Altima, in flames crashed into a pole near the intersection of North Davis and Tabor Drive. Cooper was not at the scene, having already been taken to Houston Medical Center via private vehicle.

According to Gossman, this is the result of a continuing dispute between Cooper and an unidentified individual.

“Apparently there was some type of disagreement between the two,” Gossman said. “They end up having a verbal altercation that goes on, I don’t know if it was that they kept meeting up in different places or it was social media. At about 7:30 [p.m.], they’re both at the intersection of Ignico and Davis. They have a shootout from their vehicles.”

During the shootout, Cooper was struck by a bullet, and then pulling away, crashed his vehicle into a pole. The car caught on fire, and a third party took Cooper to Houston Medical Center for his injuries.

It’s currently uncertain what weapon was used in killing Cooper. According to Gossman, evidence available at this time does not indicate this to be a gang related incident. The individual responsible for Cooper’s death has not yet been apprehended.

This is the first homicide in Houston County of 2023. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Dokes at (478) 303-5380 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at (478) 742-2330.

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