Smyrna officer shoots man firing in parking lot of office plaza

A Smyrna police officer shot a Ball Ground man in the parking lot of an office plaza Thursday after the man fired several rounds into the back of a water truck and then refused to drop his weapon, police said.

No officers were injured during the incident, which ocurred near the intersection of Lake Park Drive and Village Parkway, the GBI said in a news release.

Police said they responded to a call about a man shooting at a truck filled with water bottles. When officers arrived, 68-year-old Gary Fink still had a gun, the GBI said.

Gary Fink

Fink did not comply with orders to drop his weapon, prompting Officer Eric Smith to fire multiple shots, the GBI said. The gunfire could be heard in a cellphone video captured by a witness at the office park, which was obtained by Channel 2 Action News.

Fink was taken to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, the GBI said, and a gun was recovered at the scene.

According to Fink’s arrest warrant, he pointed a silver revolver at a Lipsey Bottled Water delivery driver, ordering the man out of his truck before firing several rounds at the glass bottles in the back.

When officers arrived, Fink did not drop the revolver and allegedly raised his weapon toward them, prompting Sgt. Eric Smith to shoot, the warrant said. Fink was struck in the right shoulder.

Thursday’s officer-involved shooting marked the 16th such case investigated by GBI agents this year. On Tuesday, the agency was called to investigate three shootings across the state.