Staff Reports
(Gainesville, Ga.) — The Hall County Sheriff’s Office will hold a
candlelight vigil to honor Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon who lost his life in the line of duty on Sunday night.
The vigil is scheduled for tonight, July 9, 2019, at 8 p.m. at the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters located at 2859 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville.
In a statement released by Hall County, they said, “The vigil plans by the community materialized over the past 24 hours through an overwhelming display of support via social media.”
Deputy Dixon, who leaves behind a wife and two children, lost his life when gunfire broke out following an incident on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at Jesse Jewell Parkway and Highland Avenue in Gainesville. Deputies were attempting to pull over a stolen vehicle believed to be connected to a string of burglaries and entering auto thefts that took place over the weekend.
The suspect vehicle crashed and the occupants fled on foot. Deputies gave chase and that is when Hector Garcia –Solis, 17, opened fire striking Deputy Dixon. Garcia-Solis was shot when deputies returned fire. He was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Garcia-Solis has been charged with felony murder.
A second suspect was apprehended hours after the initial incident after a K9 tracked him to a residence in the same area that the incident occurred near Highland Avenue. Brayan Omar Cruz, 17, was found hiding under a house and was taken into custody. He is being charged with party to a crime, felony murder.
Two additional suspects were arrested on Monday afternoon when Hall County caught up to them at two Hall County residences. Eric Edgardo Velazquez, 17, was arrested at a residence off of U.S. 129/Cleveland Highway in north Hall County. Deputies caught up with the final suspect, London Clements, 17, at his residence on Cresthill Drive in Flowery Branch. Velazquez and Clements each face charges of party to a crime, felony murder.
The suspects remain in custody at the Hall County Jail.
A memorial fund has been created to benefit Deputy Dixon’s wife and children at Peach State Bank & Trust. 100% of all donations will go directly to Dixon’s family. If you are interested in donating to the memorial fund, you may do so by going to the bank directly or by mailing in your donation.
In-person: Peach State Bank & Trust, 325 Washington Street, Gainesville GA 30501
By Mail: Peach State Bank & Trust, P.O. Box 290, Gainesville GA 30503-9835
Make checks payable to the Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon Memorial Fund.
