The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding an officer-involved shooting that took place in Catoosa County, Georgia. The incident involved officers from the East Ridge Police Department in Tennessee and occurred after an attempted traffic stop of a stolen vehicle.
According to information provided by the GBI press release, the event unfolded at approximately 5:30 p.m. last Sunday. East Ridge officers endeavored to pull over a stolen SUV crossover but the situation escalated when the driver chose to cross state lines, entering Georgia before finally stopping at a Circle K gas station on Lafayette Road in Rossville. Despite officers demanding the vehicle's two or three occupants to exit, they refused, and shortly thereafter attempted to abruptly drive off, which is when one officer discharged their firearm at the vehicle. Notably, no injuries were reported.
The GBI, stepping in at the request of the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office, will be handling the investigation to ensure an impartial inquiry into the incident. Once their investigation has concluded, the GBI will forward their findings to the Lookout Mountain District Attorney’s Office, which will then review the facts of the case. The stolen vehicle was later found on Tuesday, at a location different from the gas station.
