Two charged after shots fired during car chase in Houston, Peach counties

A drug deal gone bad resulted in the arrests of two men after a car chase in which one of the men fired shots at the other, police said.

Byron police officers heard gunshots from Byron Baptist Church on White Road about 4:15 p.m. Thursday, according to a release from the Byron Police Department.

An officer saw the driver of a white car, later identified as 30-year-old Christopher Wonnum of Centerville, firing shots at a black car in front of him, the release said.

The two vehicles got lost in traffic at one point, but a short time later Wonnum called 911 in Peach County to report that he'd been robbed in Houston County and was chasing the man who had robbed him.

The chase eventually led back to Byron, where officers tried to stop both cars.

The driver of the black car, 25-year-old Renard Turner of Byron, started fleeing from officers, and Wonnum stopped his car. In the chase with police, Turner struck a detective's car and another car at the entrance to the Peach Outlet Mall.

The chase continued another 3.5 miles and ended at a housing project on Boy Scout Road after Turner struck a tree.

Turner and Wonnum were arrested without incident.

An investigation showed that Turner had gone to Centerville to sell Wonnum narcotics, but he left with Wonnum's money and the drugs, according to the release. Wonnum then chased after Turner.

Wonnum was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Police lodged drug, gun and traffic charges against Turner, including cocaine possession, illegal possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and hit and run.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Two charged after shots fired during car chase in Houston, Peach counties ."