Map: Georgia's officer-involved shootings under GBI investigation in 2018

By Madeline McGee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia has been on pace to double its deadly officer-involved shootings this year over 2017. This map will be updated as more incidents occur. Click on each icon for more information about the shootings.

For a Q and A on officer-involved shootings, scroll below the map.

What is an "officer-involved shooting?"

In general, law enforcement agencies define an officer-involved shooting as any event where an officer fires a weapon at another person, even if the shooting was accidental or did not injure the suspect. The term doesn't include shootings where a person fired at an officer or shootings where an officer is simply present.

No agency officially tracks all officer-involved shootings in the state, but law enforcement agencies often call in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to assist in investigating officer-involved shootings, so they keep the most reliable figures.

What does this mean?

GBI spokesman Bahan Rich said the trend doesn't necessarily mean there are more shootings involving police: instead it may indicate police agencies are more likely to request the GBI investigate shooting incidents. Law enforcement agencies aren't required to request GBI investigations when an officer-involved shooting occurs, although many choose to do so. He said the number of agencies that have requested the GBI investigate officer-involved shootings has gradually increased over the years to include nearly every agency in Georgia.

The GBI has been investigating all officer-involved shootings that result in serious injury or death for the Atlanta Police Department since 2016.