A man injured in a shootout with a Pike County sheriff’s deputy has died, the GBI said.
Two deputies were called just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 3100 block of Roberts Quarters Road on a 911 call about a person pointing a gun at someone.
When they arrived, deputies made contact with 70-year-old Grady Parks, who was armed with a shotgun and a derringer style over-under handgun, GBI spokesman
Bahan Rich said.
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Parks was reportedly chasing the person who called 911.
“Deputies gave verbal commands for Parks to drop his weapons, but he did not comply,” Rich said.
At that point, a deputy used a Taser. Then, a brief struggle ensued when the Taser proved to be ineffective, authorities said.
“Parks reportedly raised his shotgun toward the other deputy and fired,” Rich said.
The shot missed the deputy.
“Simultaneously, the deputy fired his service weapon, striking Parks twice,” Rich said.
Parks was taken to Spalding Regional Hospital in Griffin, where he later died.
An autopsy will be performed at the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur.
No other injuries were reported in this incident.
The GBI is looking into the deadly incident, which is standard protocol in use-of-force cases.
In 2017, the GBI investigated 95 officer-involved shootings. So far this year there have been 19 officer-involved shootings, Rich said.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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