The GBI is investigating after an Athens-Clarke County Police Department officer shot and killed an Athens woman. This is the fifth officer-involved shooting in Athens this year.
According to the ACCPD, the incident happened shortly after 10 am when officers responded to a suspicious person call in the 100 block of Chalfont Drive.
During a media conference, Chief Cleveland Spruill said the woman, who may have called police herself, approached an officer with a knife and gun.
“When that individual advanced toward the officer with the knife raised in a threatening manner; the officer fired shots which struck that individual,” according to Chief Spruill. “That individual fell to the ground, they administered first aid to her, she was transported to a local area hospital. Unfortunately, she did succumb to her injuries.
The victim, a 54-year old white female, was found to have a knife. Chief Spruill said the woman approached the officer with the knife in a threatening manner.
This is the fifth officer-involved shooting this year.
The chief says the officer involved in today’s shooting was not involved in any of the others. Due to ACCPD policy, the department called the GBI to lead the investigation.
“Also in accordance with our policies, the officer that was involved in that shooting was placed on administrative leave with pay, pending a preliminary investigation of the facts in that matter.”
Chief Spruill says Body cam footage of the incident will be released at a later date.
