The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has stepped in to scrutinize a shooting involving police in Athens, where a confrontation with a man reported to be armed ended without injury. According to the GBI's statement, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) sought their assistance following the incident that unfolded on the night of May 3, 2024, at Bethel Homes in the 100 block of Hickman Drive.

Details from the preliminary investigation reveal that at around 9:30 p.m., local officers attempted to engage with 25-year-old Walter McGuire from Colbert, GA. The situation escalated when McGuire fled, and during a terse moment, officers noticed that he was in possession of a firearm. As events quickly devolved, McGuire discharged his weapon from within a vehicle, prompting at least one officer to return fire. Fortunately, despite the gunshots, no individuals were struck or injured.

The chase that ensued ended in McGuire's arrest; he was later hospitalized and then booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail. As is protocol, the GBI is now conducting an independent investigation to paint a clearer picture of the events that transpired between McGuire and the officers. The GBI's findings will eventually be delivered to the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, which will review the case file once the investigation concludes.