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Man found dead in the woods after deputies respond to mental-health call in Lizella

The 37-year-old man was found in the woods near Holley and Hamlin Roads in Lizella.

LIZELLA, Ga. — A man is dead after committing suicide in the woods near Hamlin and Holley Road in Lizella, according to Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones. 

The call initially came in as a "burglary in progress" at 4623 Holley Road in Lizella, according to Lieutenant Sean DeFoe with the Bibb Sheriff's Office.

37-year-old Gary Jones reportedly demanded that the homeowner harm him. The homeowner refused. The homeowner reported they "thought" the man fired shots near the home. Investigators are still working to determine if shots were ever fired. Defoe says there was a window busted at the house on Holley Road. 

Pictures are circulating on social media of Jones holding an assault rifle in the yard of the home. 

Defoe said the man ran into the woods. A short time later, people heard a single shot. Deputies called out a Georgia State Patrol chopper to search the area. Investigators found Gary Jones' body at around 1:30 Monday morning. Deputy Coroner Lonnie Miley pronounced Jones dead at the scene. Coroner Leon Jones says they're investigating the death as a suicide and have requested an autopsy from the GBI because law enforcement was involved. 

Lt. Defoe says the man did not have a known history of mental health issues. Jones was coping with deaths in the family, Defoe says.

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