The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released video of last week’s fatal shooting involving a Carrollton police officer.
The pair of audio-less one-minute clips — seemingly taken from surveillance cameras at a nearby auto dealership — appear to show the moment Cpl. Chad Cook shot and killed 40-year-old Kenneth Joel Dothard. At about the 25-second mark of one video, Cook can be seen raising his hands in front of his chest before taking a few steps backward as Dothard falls.
Little else is decipherable.
According to information previously released by the GBI, Cook reported to the area near Bankhead Highway and Burns Road around 9 p.m. Thursday, responding to a 911 call made regarding a suspicious person with a gun at a nearby bank. The 7 1/2-year veteran of the Carrollton Police Department found Dothard there and noticed what appeared to be a holstered handgun.
While context for the subsequent shooting is largely lacking in the video released Monday, it's better captured in audio recordings of the encounter.
The audio, released Friday, captures Cook speaking with Dothard calmly and coolly for about eight minutes. He repeatedly asks Dothard about his firearm before calling for backup.
Dothard can then be heard growing agitated and asking why backup is necessary.
“I’m going to have to have another unit to come out here with me right now because of the questions I’m asking you,” Cook says. “You’re making me feel like you know you shouldn’t have a gun on you.”
At that point, Dothard allegedly puts his hand on his gun.
“Don’t take that gun out!” Cook cries. “Do not take the gun out!”
“Do not touch me,” Dothard replies.
As Dothard allegedly continues to remove the weapon, Cook shouts: “Don’t take that gun out or I’ll shoot you.”
About two seconds later, two shots can be heard, followed by Cook shouting into his radio.
“Shots fired,” he says. “Shots fired. Shots fired. Suspect is down.”
Dothard was struck in the head and killed.
Cook has been placed on paid leave while the GBI investigates the shooting at the request of Carrollton police Chief Joel Richards.
“The GBI will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what occurred during the incident,” GBI spokeswoman Sherry Lang said last week. “When the investigation is complete it will be turned over to the district attorney for any action he deems appropriate.”
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