Officer Injured in Shootout, Subject Killed

A Macon County deputy is now home recovery from injuries after being shot twice during a confrontation with an armed man last week.

On Tuesday, June 8, Around 1 p.m., deputies were dispatched to an address in the 1800 block of West Stinson Road on a report of a male subject with a gun, walking down the road and causing a disturbance. When deputies arrived, the man fired shots at them with a rifle, and deputies returned fire. That individual, 48-year-old Nathaniel Damien Raabe, went inside the home, where he was later found deceased. 

One Macon County deputy, Sergeant Kyle Petty, was struck by gunfire. 

Officer Petty, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was hit twice – once in the leg and once in the chest. The bullet to his chest is said to have pierced the vest, but slowed enough to not do significant damage to his chest. 

He was transported to a Skyline Hospital by helicopter, and was treated for his injuries. He is now home recovering.

Officer Petty is a 15-year veteran of the Macon County Sheriff’s Department, and the community has rallied around him. A GoFundMe account for his family has been established to help with expenses while he is recovering from his injuries.

At the request of 15th District Attorney General Pro Tempore Jason Lawson, TBI special agents continue to investigate the circumstances leading to Raabe’s death.

TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, and special agent/ forensic scientists have been on the scene to collect and process any and all relevant evidence. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.