In the quiet, rural landscape of Banks County, Georgia, a dedicated servant to the community made his daily rounds, unaware that his life was about to be tragically cut short. Asa 'Junior' Wood Jr., a 59-year-old male United States Postal Service mail carrier, was a familiar and welcome sight to the residents along his route. For 28 years, he had diligently served the people of Commerce, becoming a beloved husband, father, and grandfather known for his joyful soul.
On the morning of August 7, 2021, while working his route on Hebron Road, Wood was fatally shot inside his postal truck. He had been filling in for another postal worker that day and would have normally been off from work.
The Banks County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about an 'intentional shooting' and upon arrival, deputies discovered Wood deceased in his vehicle. The shocking and senseless nature of the crime prompted a swift and intensive investigation, with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service joining forces with the local sheriff's office. Investigators quickly identified a person of interest and a description of their vehicle. This information was crucial in the hours that followed the discovery of Wood's body.
Later that day, deputies on patrol spotted the suspect's vehicle. The driver, identified as 50-year-old Larry Steven Grogan of Danielsville, attempted to flee, leading deputies on a pursuit. When the chase came to an end, Grogan exited his vehicle and opened fire on the deputies with a rifle. The deputies returned fire, striking and wounding Grogan. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into the Banks County jail. The deputies involved in the shootout were not seriously injured.
Following the investigation, a federal grand jury indicted Larry Steven Grogan on multiple charges, including the murder of a federal employee, assault on a federal employee using a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm resulting in death, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. While a motive for the shooting has not been publicly released by investigators, those familiar with Grogan described him as a known 'troublemaker.' In videos posted online shortly before the murder, Grogan made claims of being 'microwaved to death by cell towers' and suffering from 'electromagnetic torture and ultrasound,' and also claimed that Banks County police officers had threatened to murder him. The community mourned the loss of Asa Wood, a man remembered for his dedication to his family and his community, and for the simple acts of kindness he showed to those on his mail route.
