Man fatally shot by Macon deputy has been identified. What we know
A Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed a man in the early-morning hours Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office.
The shooting happened just after 12 a.m. at the Circle K on Chambers Road, BCSO said in a news release.
The deputy was at the scene because of a report of a “male subject forcing his way into the store and attacking the store clerk and customers,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Once the deputy arrived on scene, the male subject charged at the deputy with a weapon in hand. The deputy discharged his firearm, striking the subject,” the sheriff’s office said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation later said Ware’s weapon was a screwdriver.
Deputies and paramedics rendered aid to the man, but he was pronounced dead on scene, the sheriff’s office said.
Several hours after the shooting, the sheriff’s office identified the man as Zachary Aaron Ware, 28. The coroner’s office said Ware’s family was notified of his death.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene to investigate the shooting. The BCSO Internal Affairs office also will investigate, the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office did not identify the deputy or release any additional details.
The gas station was open later Thursday morning, with a limited law enforcement presence still on the scene.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 5:26 AM.