A late-night armed robbery investigation on a quiet DeKalb County street ended in gunfire Tuesday, leaving a man dead and a police officer on administrative leave.
Police said an officer shot a man on the 3300 block of Rammel Way while responding to an armed robbery call. The man was taken from the scene but died while being transported to a hospital, according to CBS News Atlanta. No other officers or civilians were hurt. The officer who fired has been placed on administrative leave, described by the department as standard procedure after a shooting.
GBI Steps In As Blue Lights Crowd The Block
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed it was called in to handle the case after the shooting, and DeKalb police referred further questions to the state agency, WSB-TV reported. Channel 2 crews counted dozens of officers flooding the area as investigators processed the scene late into the night.
How The GBI Investigation Plays Out
Per its standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, the GBI has said in public statements that it conducts an independent investigation, then hands its findings to local prosecutors. As the agency puts it in its regular releases, "The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for review," according to its press pages. That handoff is what determines how evidence is reviewed and whether any criminal charges are considered, with the final call resting with the district attorney.
Shooting Caps Violent Stretch In DeKalb
The latest shooting lands on top of an already rough stretch for DeKalb County. Recent incidents include a June 29 apartment complex shooting where gunfire rocked Wood Terrace Circle and a July 2 pre-dawn double shooting that left an adult and a juvenile dead, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In the wake of those cases, local officials have repeatedly urged residents to share any video or tips that might help detectives connect the dots.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the man shot on Rammel Way. Investigators are asking anyone who saw what happened, or who has relevant footage, to contact the GBI or DeKalb police while the inquiry is underway. The GBI’s press pages include phone numbers and online tip options for people willing to come forward, according to the agency’s site.
