Map: Georgia's officer-involved shootings under GBI investigation in 2020

Law-enforcement agencies often call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to assist in investigations of officer-involved shootings. This map tracks the cases that the GBI has been called to investigate in 2020. We will update as more incidents occur. Click on each icon for more information about the shootings.

The map will also note known incidents of officers discharging their weapons that are not being investigated by the GBI, as well as GBI investigations involving officer force that did not involve a firearm (i.e., Tasers).

In 2019, the GBI was asked to investigate 84 incidents. Maps for previous years: 2018 | 2019. For a more information 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.

Madeline McGee contributed to this report.