The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has identified 34-year old Thomas Wayne Swinford as the man shot in an incident on March 8th on West Lake Drive. Police were called to the scene around 6:30 pm Friday, where they found Swinford holding what appeared to be a handgun in a threatening manner. Officers ordered him to drop the weapon.
The release states Swinford then charged at the officers with the gun in his hand pointing at the officers, several of whom then fired at Swinford, hitting him multiple times.
After the shooting, officers immediately rendered first aid and Swinford was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The investigation revealed that Swinford was in possession of and brandished an airsoft replica style handgun.
No officers were injured in this incident.
According to an ACCPD media release, seven officers fired their weapons in the incident: Officer C.J. Bidinger, Officer First Class William Greenlow, Officer Claude Johnson, Corporal Alex Leder, Sergeant Jon McIlvaine, Officer Joshua Santos and Officer Roger Williams.
The department released body cam footage of the incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmX-13smT3Y
https://www.facebook.com/accpolice/videos/332491257398444/.
The entire GBI release is posted below.
GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Athens
March 9, 2019
Athens, GA (March 9, 2019) – On Friday, March 8, 2019, the GBI was requested by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) to conduct an officer-involved shooting investigation. Preliminary information indicates that shortly before 6:30 p.m., officers were involved in an incident on West Lake Drive involving an individual who was believed to be armed with a weapon. ACCPD officers encountered a male subject, identified as Thomas Wayne Swinford, 34, of Grovetown, GA, who brandished what appeared to be a firearm in a threatening manner. Officers issued verbal commands for Swinford to drop the firearm. Swinford disregarded the officers’ commands and charged the officers with the firearm in his hand pointed in the officers’ direction. Multiple officers discharged their firearms, striking Swinford. After the shooting, officers immediately rendered first aid and Swinford was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The investigation revealed that Swinford was in possession of and brandished an airsoft replica style handgun.
No officers were injured in this incident.
The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Once complete, it will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for review.