(Lawrenceville, Ga., 6/30/26) – A Florida man who shot a Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Deputy after stealing a car and leading officers on a high-speed chase received a 110-year sentence.

James Edward Perkins, 38, was found guilty of five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, theft by receiving a stolen vehicle, theft by receiving a stolen firearm, interference with government property, criminal damage to government property, fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark, and terroristic threats for the June 2022 shooting incident that left Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Neil Butler seriously injured.

“We are grateful that Sgt. Butler survived this incident and is back in good health,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “Every day, the men and women of our law enforcement agencies put their lives on the line to keep Gwinnett County safe. This verdict sends a message that when you decide to come against the folks that are charged with safety in our community, we will take it very seriously, and we will prevail.”

“Like Sgt. Butler, and the entire law enforcement community, we run toward incidents that most people run from,” said Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor. “When our deputies conduct their job in the manner that they do, it is important that folks like me, Chief Deputy (Cleo) Atwater, District Attorney Austin-Gatson, and the staff in her office make certain that we do everything humanly possible to ensure that justice is served.”

On June 10, 2022, law enforcement was informed of a stolen vehicle in a shopping center parking lot in Duluth. As Gwinnett County Police officers arrived and saw Perkins walking toward the vehicle, they parked their cars to block the stolen vehicle. An officer tased the defendant when he ignored police commands to surrender. Then Perkins got into the stolen vehicle and hit the squad cars and other parked cars as he fled. 

For about 30 minutes, the defendant led police on a high-speed chase through county roads, with speeds at times exceeding 80 mph. The Gwinnett County Police Department’s Aviation Unit also joined the pursuit to track the defendant’s location. Perkins crashed the car into a fence near the leasing office of a Lawrenceville apartment complex and threatened to have a bomb as law enforcement surrounded him. Sgt. Butler responded to the scene to offer backup. Butler and his K-9 Cino approached the wrecked vehicle as Perkins tried to reverse the vehicle from the fence. The defendant opened fire on Butler and other officers surrounding him, hitting Butler in the shoulder. 

During the trial, the jury saw body and dash-cam footage from Butler and the many law enforcement officers involved in pursuing and capturing Perkins. Jurors also saw footage from the Gwinnett County Police Department’s Aviation Unit and heard Butler’s testimony that the bullet that entered his shoulder exited near the base of his neck, missing his spine by centimeters.

The jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Perkins guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to 110 years, of which he was ordered to serve 60 in prison.

Managing Assistant District Attorney Lauren McAuley and Assistant District Attorney Anyssa Williams prosecuted the case with assistance from Investigators Jeff Lamphier and Tiffany Mosly, and Victim Witness Advocate Sara Gardner. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and the Gwinnett County Police Department were invaluable in helping to prosecute this case.