An investigation is underway following a fatal officer-involved shooting in Smyrna, Georgia. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), 46-year-old Darrick Desawn Rooks of Marietta was killed during an altercation with the Smyrna Police Department yesterday.
The incident began early in the morning when a Smyrna officer spotted a stolen U-Haul truck and attempted to stop it. The GBI reports that the vehicle eventually halted on McLinden Avenue near Concord Road SE, where officers tried to safely manage the situation by conducting a felony stop and issuing numerous commands. It was during this episode that a gunshot was said to be fired from the stolen truck, prompting officers to swiftly respond with gunfire of their own.
The confrontation resulted in no injuries to police officers, but as they approached the vehicle, they discovered Rooks. The GBI's press release indicates that he was found already deceased in the cab of the truck with a gunshot wound. To determine the exact cause and manner of his death, Rooks' body will be subjected to an autopsy by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting is currently under rigorous review. Once the GBI concludes their investigation, they will to hand over the case file to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for further examination and to decide on any potential next steps.
