Thanks to excellent medical care and an untold number of prayers from around the region, state and nation, McCaysville Police Capt. Brantley Worley is home recovering from a gunshot wound to the neck and surgery to repair a broken nose.
The shooting suspect was arrested about 19 hours after the Sept. 12 assault thanks to a massive multiagency manhunt.
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And the police department in neighboring Fannin County is grateful for the many law enforcement resources that were brought to bear as well as the tremendous outpouring of community support, according to McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley.
“On the night of September 12th, 2025, evil tried to strike when our Captain, Brantley Worley, was shot in the line of duty while responding to a call for service,” Earley said last Thursday. “But through the power of prayer, the strength of our community, and the grace of Almighty God, good prevailed.
“Captain Worley was rushed to Erlanger Hospital in critical condition, and by God’s mercy and the skill of medical staff, he is now home, recovering, and healing. His homecoming was a moment none of us will ever forget, a moment that proved once again that evil did not win, God did.”
Regarding Worley’s homecoming, Earley was referring to his law enforcement escort from the hospital the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 16, which saw the streets of McCaysville lined with supporters cheering for Worley following his ordeal.
“I want to thank the tireless men and women of law enforcement, fire departments, EMS teams, and 9-1-1 dispatchers who worked around the clock in those first hours,” Earley said. “A special thanks goes to the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Dane Kirby, Deputy Chief Keith Bosen, Captain Justin Turner, Fannin EMA, Fannin Fire, Fannin EMS, and Fannin 911 Dispatch for everything they did to help establish command and bring order to a chaotic scene.
“To the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, thank you for leading the investigation with professionalism and dedication.
“I also want to thank the countless Sheriff’s Offices, Police Departments, State Agencies, and Federal Agencies across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina who stood shoulder to shoulder with us during the search. Because of your efforts, the suspect was captured and remains in custody with no bond.”
Earley gave another “special thank you” to Gov. Brian Kemp for his prayers, phone calls, and “commitment to ensure we had every resource we needed,” and he thanked Public Safety Commissioner Col. William W. Hitchens, III and the Georgia State Patrol “for providing critical support that helped us bring this man into custody.”
“To our City of McCaysville staff, Mayor Terry Arp, and our City Council,” Earley continued, “thank you for standing with us, for your leadership, and for your unwavering support for our department during this time.
“To our community: over these past days, you have been nothing short of incredible. You fed first responders, you brought donations, you sent messages of encouragement, and most importantly, you prayed. Those prayers carried us through our darkest hours. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Earley asked people to “please continue to pray,” not just over this incident, but in all matters concerning public safety.
“Pray for all first responders, as we answer the calls of evil daily to keep our communities safe and return home to our families,” Earley said. “Pray for our District Attorney’s Office and the GBI, that the investigation and the evidence presented will ensure that monsters like this are put behind bars for a very long time.
“And to the first deputies and EMS personnel on the scene that night, you will always be my heroes.
“On behalf of myself and the entire McCaysville Police Department: thank you. May we continue to walk in faith, stand together in unity, and trust in God’s healing hand.”
