An investigation is underway by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) into an officer-involved shooting at Oakland City MARTA station in Atlanta, which left no injuries. The incident occurred on the evening last Monday, when MARTA Police Department officers were called to the scene after receiving reports of a robbery, according to a GBI statement.
Upon officers' arrival, 18-year-old Carnell Kelly, the alleged suspect in the theft, fled the scene, initiating a chase that ended at James Orange Park. The GBI's report details that when officers caught up with Kelly, he was armed with a knife. In the ensuing confrontation, authorities stated Kelly "pulled out a knife" and, despite being ordered to drop the weapon, he instead "grabbed his knife and engaged in a struggle" with the officers. During this scuffle, an officer's gun discharged, but the bullet did not hit anyone.
The tension escalated until an officer used a Taser to subdue Kelly, who was then taken into custody by the MARTA Police Department. Following the incident, agents are focusing on piecing together the events that led to the discharge of the firearm. Meanwhile, Kelly declined medical treatment on the scene when EMS arrived and, he faces charges levied by the MARTA P.D.
The GBI's role remains that of an independent investigator diligently working to complete their review of the case, after which, the findings will be submitted to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office for further scrutiny. The public awaits the District Attorney's verdict on the matter as well as any additional light it may shed on the incident, the procedures employed by the officers involved, and the circumstances leading to the rare outcome of a gun being fired but no injuries reported.
