GBI: Officer fatally shoots knife-wielding man who fled traffic stop

A North Georgia police officer fatally shot a man who drove away from a traffic stop and later came toward him with a knife, the GBI said.

The incident began shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday when an officer in Clayton stopped a Honda Accord for speeding on Ga. 441 South, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said in a news release.

The car was going 68 mph in a 45-mph zone, according to the release. A chase followed, and the Honda crashed on a private drive.

The officer gave commands for the driver to stay in the car, but he came out of a rear window and went onto the car’s roof, according to the release.

“The subject then, armed with a knife, jumped off the hood of the vehicle towards the officer,” the GBI said. “The subject advanced towards the officer, swinging the knife, at which time the officer fired multiple gunshots at the subject.

“The subject was struck and died at the scene.”

#GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Rabun County pic.twitter.com/4eIGDMovDo
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) February 1, 2018

An autopsy is planned for Friday at the GBI medical examiner’s office in DeKalb County.

The agency is investigating the incident, which is normal protocol in cases involving use of force. It is the eighth such case for the GBI in 2018.

Know what's really going on with crime and public safety in your metro Atlanta community, including breaking news, trial coverage, trends and the latest on unsolved cases. Sign up for the AJC's crime and safety newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox.

In other news:

Police say it started with a fight between two girls at a bus stop in Gwinnett County.??

About the Author

Steve Burns

PSC won’t delay key Georgia Power vote after Democrats’ election wins

The Georgia Public Service Commission has rejected a bid to delay a key vote on whether to allow Georgia Power to execute a historic expansion of its generation fleet.

Clapping out the paper: A farewell to ink, deadlines and the print AJC

Beginning on Jan. 1, this 157-year-old institution will become a fully digital news operation. No more paper. No more ink-stained fingers. No more paper in your driveway.