The GBI is investigating its fifth officer-involved shooting in the Atlanta metro area in the past 10 days after an incident Monday night at a Publix in Tucker.

A DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office deputy working a part-time security job at the new grocery store at 4650 Hugh Howell Road witnessed an argument between two groups near the front entrance and then saw one man shoot another, according to a GBI news release. The deputy fired at the suspect but did not strike the man as he fled from the store, the GBI said.

The victim, identified as Ronald Thomas, was critically injured and rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital. The GBI said late Tuesday he is considered stable.

No one else was injured.

Investigators determined the argument began in the parking lot about 8:45 p.m. As the two groups approached the store, tensions escalated. The alleged shooter, whose name was not released, was eventually apprehended and questioned by the DeKalb County Police Department, which is handling the initial shooting investigation.

This is the 47th officer-involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate this year. Since April 29, the state agency has been requested to handle four other police shootings in the metro area, including three in Fulton County and one in Gwinnett County.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also tracks officer-involved shootings that don’t involve the GBI, and those numbers sometimes differ from the GBI’s tally.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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