Newton County S.O. Investigates Shooting – Makes Arrest

On Friday, September 12, 2025, at 7:23 a.m., the Newton County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call regarding a shooting off County Road 4393 in the Sandjack community. Deputies and first responders arrived on scene and immediately began performing life-saving measures on the victim, identified as Brandon Diggles. Deputies initiated an investigation and quickly identified the suspect as Diggles’ stepfather, Ernest Ray Keyes.

During the course of the investigation, deputies gathered evidence and presented it to Justice of the Peace Michael Greer, who issued an arrest warrant on Keyes for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Family Violence). Keyes was subsequently arrested and booked into the Newton County Jail on the charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The victim in this case is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Sheriff Colton Havard