Warm Springs Police release evidence from cop killer’s previous arrest

The Warm Springs Police Department has released a detailed public statement and videos regarding a prior arrest of Jimmy Lee Steverson and the subsequent murder of Sgt. Chris Fisher. The 23-year-old Steverson shot Sgt. Fisher September 1 while he sat in his patrol car during an unrelated traffic stop in Warm Springs. Steverson killed himself inside a vehicle that was pulled over by a South Carolina deputy the next day.

Steverson’s family and friends have suggested the police officer’s murder was motivated by a previous arrest by Sgt. Fisher August 27, 2026. Steverson was out on bond at the time of the murder facing multiple felony offenses including a weapons charge, possession of marijuana and obstruction of a police officer after that arrest.

The newly released evidence confirms there was a physical encounter between Sgt. Fisher and Steverson during the August 27 arrest that included Steverson being tased and more than $5,000 dollars seized during the traffic stop at a Marathon gas station in Warm Springs. The money was kept by police as evidence and is still stored by the department.

Warm Springs Police Chief Matthew Mayfield said that he hopes by releasing the video and information about Steverson’s prior arrest the community can begin healing after the traumatic event. The following narrative was released by Warm Springs Police Chief Mayfield.

On August 27, 2026 at 10:45 p.m., Sergeant Christopher Fisher of the Warm Springs Police Department was conducting business checks while on foot patrol and observed a black Chevrolet Silverado riding down Broad Street with the windows down, playing loud music and Sergeant Fisher could smell what appeared to be the odor of marijuana coming from the truck.

Sergeant Fisher returned to his patrol car and conducted a traffic stop on the truck at the Marathon Gas Station. Once stopped, Sergeant Fisher approached the truck and made contact with the driver identified as Jimmy Lee Steverson, 23 years old, of Greenville.
While making contact with Steverson, Sergeant Fisher confirmed the odor of marijuana he smelled was in fact from the truck Steverson was driving.

Sergeant Fisher instructed Steverson to exit truck, which he complied, so he could further investigate. Fisher also asked Steverson if he had been drinking, where Steverson did confirm he had been. While Sergeant Fisher was conducting a formal interview as well as requesting and performing a physical search of Steverson, he continuously became more non-compliant.

Sergeant Fisher did push Steverson back down to a seat on the push bumper of his patrol vehicle, after Steverson stood up multiple times, while talking to Fisher, after being asked to remain seated. Due to this, Sergeant Fisher attempted to detain Steverson. Steverson’s non-compliance became more physical while trying to place him into handcuffs which lead to physical contact, resulting in Sergeant Fisher attempting a leg sweep, to take Steverson to the ground.

While performing the leg sweep, Sergeant Fisher tripped himself, falling backwards, where Steverson fell with Fisher, landing on top of him, At that time, physical contact was made on the ground. Sergeant Fisher was then able to get out from under Steverson, where he got to his feet. Steverson and Fisher then proceeded with physical, hand to hand combat, where Fisher did strike Steverson in the face with a closed fist, after being struck by Steverson. Sergeants Fishers hat was knocked from his head as a result of this physical contact.

Sergeant Fisher was ultimately able to create space between he and Steverson and Fisher was able to deploy his department issued Taser which partially struck Steverson as he was attempting to flee. The taser did not make complete contact with Steverson, only striking Steverson with one probe, which did strike Steverson in the right earlobe. Sergeant Fisher then took Steverson to the ground again and was then able to gain compliance of Steverson and place him under arrest, securing him with handcuffs.

Sergeant Fisher was the only officer on scene during the entire altercation and only received back up from surrounding agencies after he was able to secure Steverson in handcuffs. Steverson was then secured in Sergeant Fishers patrol vehicle.

Local EMS was called to the scene to check Steverson for any major injuries. Once cleared by EMS, he was taken to Warm Springs Medical Center to receive medical clearance, prior to being transported to the Meriwether County Jail. Steverson was later booked and charged with Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony (3 charges), Possession of Marijuana over One Ounce, and Obstruction of an Officer, all Felonies. Seized at the scene was US Currency as well as Two AR Style rifles and One Micro Draco firearm. US currency was seized as evidence in accordance with asset forfeiture laws and the guns were taken as evidence to the possession of these weapons in the commission of felonies.

On September 1, 2026, at 10:50 p.m., a traffic stop was conducted by Assistant Chief Jake Grace of the Warm Springs Police Department at the Meriwether Country Inn, located at 5675 Spring St., Warm Springs due to the driver having a suspended driver’s license through the State of Alabama.

During the traffic stop investigation, two adult females were found to be in possession of illegal drugs. After the traffic stop investigation was concluded, the two females were arrested and secured in Chief Mayfield’s patrol car and he and Assistant Chief Grace transported them to the Troup County Jail.

Sergeant Christopher Fisher, who was assisting with a traffic stop, was asked to stand by with the arrestee’s vehicle while a tow truck took possession of the car. At approximately 11:47 p.m., while waiting for the tow truck to remove the car, a black truck pulled up beside Sergeant Fisher on the driver side of his patrol car, and the driver of the truck shot him while he was sitting in the car and drove away from the location.

Meriwether County 911 was notified by a witness to the crime, and first responders were immediately dispatched. Once they arrived on scene it was determined that Sergeant Fisher had died from his injuries.

Please note that Chief Mayfield, Assistant Chief Grace and Sergeant Fisher saw and witnessed Steverson drive by them multiple times in the black Silverado truck during the night on unrelated traffic stops. Steverson did yell out of the vehicle at Sergeant Fisher on another unrelated traffic stop; what Steverson said is unknown as Officer’s were not close enough to make out what was said.

During the investigation, law enforcement determined that the possible suspect was
Jimmy Lee Steverson and a “Blue Alert” was issued by the Georgia Bureau of
Investigations who were assisting Warm Springs Police Department. Using law enforcement technology, a vehicle that Steverson was believed to be traveling in was seen on Interstate 85 in Anderson County, South Carolina by law enforcement. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and law enforcement officers found Steverson in the car with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two female occupants were also in the car and were detained by law enforcement. Steverson was transported to a local hospital where he died.

All body cam footage from Sergeant Fisher will be included with this. All videos are
labeled in order from 1-6. Video #1 is the initial encounter and continues to roll until the
camera is struck hard, or knocked from Sergeant Fisher’s vest, causing it to go into an emergency video mark mode.

The camera picks back up as Sergeant Fisher is handcuffing Steverson. The Marathon gas station footage captures the fight between Steverson and Sergeant Fisher and shows what is unable to be seen by the blank screen on the body camera. Gas Station #4 video shows the fight. Money Count Video 1 and Video 2 addressed the money that was seized along with felony narcotics and firearms, under asset forfeiture and placed inside the Police Department Evidence room where it still remains. The amount of currency in question is $5054.00.

An exact motive for Sergeant Fisher’s murder has yet to be determined. This is still
considered to be an open investigation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The Warm Springs Police Department is committed to transparency in this tragic
situation. By releasing this body worn camera footage and gas station footage, we are
hoping to move forward with healing and closure.

“September 1, 2026 was a very dark moment for the City of Warm Springs, and the
Fisher family. Since that time our community and state have come together to
remember Sergeant Fisher and show support to his family and fellow officers. While
there are certainly some questions that may not be answered at this time, my hope is
that we can all begin the process of healing and find a path forward. Again, I can’t thank
those enough that have assisted my agency during this tough time”