A motorist was fatally shot by a Georgia
police officer after a car chase led multiple police vehicles to box him in.According to 11 Alive, a police officer from the Cobb County Police Department shot and killed a motorist who had been described as “driving erratically” before the driver led police officers on a brief chase near the city of Atlanta.
The deadly incident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday when “a Cobb County Police Department officer observed a vehicle being driven recklessly” near Powder Springs Road and State Route 120A in Marietta.
The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Devonte Dawayne Brown of Austell. Cobb County Police spokesperson Sergeant Wayne Delk had initially told the media that police officers tried to apprehend Brown because he was in a stolen vehicle. They have changed that narrative by stating that the car was not stolen but they attempted to pull him over because he was driving erratically.
The video shows officers surrounding the suspect’s car and then unleash a hail of gunfire.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released a statement pertaining to the deadly incident:
“Preliminary information indicates that around 3:30 p.m., a Cobb County
Police Department officer observed a vehicle being driven recklessly in the area of South Loop and Powder Springs Road in Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver, identified as Devonte Dawayne Brown, 28, of Austell, initially pulled over, but then refused to comply and sped away. Multiple officers from the Cobb County Police Department and Cobb County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop Brown. At one point, the officers attempted to box in the vehicle. During this incident, Brown attempted to get away and hit multiple police vehicles. As police officers were trying to take Brown into custody, a Cobb County Police Department officer fired his gun, striking Brown. Brown was transported to a local area hospital where he died.”According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox had also released a statement Wednesday evening about the incident:
“I am very relieved to share with you there were no other injuries in this dangerous situation Cobb County Police Officers and Cobb County Sheriff’s Deputies were involved in this afternoon. We’ve received numerous questions and can confirm that a handgun was recovered. As in most incidents of this magnitude, many times the information comes in a preliminary fashion and is updated as more details become available. It was initially reported this incident evolved from a stolen vehicle traffic stop. We have now confirmed that this incident began with an officer observing the vehicle driving erratically and posing a threat to motoring and pedestrian traffic in the area. We are thankful no motorists or pedestrians were injured. And we will continue to provide all of our personnel and other needed resources to the GBI in the furtherance of their independent investigation.”