Greene County chief deputy killed

A gunman shot and killed the chief deputy of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office Sunday morning before killing himself, authorities said.

Chief Deputy Kevin Roberts, 48, was killed “by a target of an investigation being conducted by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office” after opening the door of his Siloam house, the department said in a statement. A report on ajc.com identified the suspect as a 37-year-old convicted felon, and published reports indicate the sheriff’s office investigation may have focused on drugs.

A career lawman, Roberts has served as the department’s chief deputy since 1999, according to the sheriff’s office. He previously served with police departments in Greensboro and Union Point.

The GBI and a number of other agencies are helping with the investigation. “Please say a prayer for the sheriff’s office and his family,” the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, which is assisting with the investigation, said in a post to its Facebook page.