Ranger William Earl Hobbs

William Earl Hobbs

Ranger Bill Hobbs succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on his farm six miles south of Blakely 12 days earlier as he and an Early County deputy investigated a disturbance involving a mentally unstable man who was living with family members on the property.

The man had been released from Central State Hospital a few weeks earlier and was causing a disturbance. He shot at Ranger Hobbs and the deputy when they arrived at the scene. Ranger Hobbs suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He then took a gun and ammunition from the deputy's patrol car and barricaded himself in the farmhouse.

Responding officers shot and killed the man when he opened fire on them.

Ranger Hobbs was survived by his wife and son.