Jason Futch
A Madison County man wanted in Suwannee County for child sex crimes is in critical condition following a standoff that led to the suspect firing a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
According to a statement from Madison County Sheriff David Harper, deputies with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) located 26-year-old Zachary Jeremiah Mosier at a residence on Northeast Juniper Drive in Lee after receiving information from investigators with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office that Mosier was wanted in their jurisdiction. Mosier was wanted for promoting sexual performance by a child, as well as lewd and lascivious battery on a child. In a press release from MCSO, it was reported that Mosier had made numerous statements to family and friends that he was armed with a handgun and that he would shoot at law enforcement to force them to shoot him.
As investigators arrived at the location, they saw an unidentified person running to and entering a parked recreational vehicle (RV). Shortly after, investigators learned that Mosier and his mother were inside the RV. Deputies discovered the mother was not being held against her will, but refused to come out when she was asked to.
MCSO investigators attempted to call Mosier outside to surrender, but he refused to exit the RV. Eventually, they both came out; Mosier with a handgun to his head, his mother with a knife to her neck. Both had threatened to kill themselves.
Investigators continued to negotiate with both of them before Mosier’s mother turned around and ran back to the RV. At the same time, Mosier shot himself in the head, prompting investigators to begin lifesaving measures for him. Mosier’s mother was secured after deputies entered the RV.
Mosier was transported to a South Georgia hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. A source from the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, speaking on anonymity, shared that he was on life support as of Monday, Feb. 23.
Sheriff Harper said in the statement that no additional injuries occurred, nor did a deputy fire a shot during the incident. It was reported that Mosier had previously lived in Suwannee County.