Armed suspect held up clerk at gunpoint, fatally shot by police, GBI says

A Rome police officer will be placed on administrative leave after fatally shooting a suspect, authorities said.

Credit: Henri Hollis

Credit: Henri Hollis

A Rome police officer will be placed on administrative leave after fatally shooting a suspect, authorities said.

An armed robbery suspect held up a clerk at gunpoint and was fatally shot Friday morning by a Rome police officer after fleeing the crime scene, officials said.

The GBI identified the man as Kelvin Gerard Jackson, 34, of Augusta. No officers were injured.

Surveillance footage showed the suspect enter the Hi-Tech convenience store in the 400 block of South Broad Street in Rome and force the clerk to place money in a bag at gunpoint, the GBI said.

Jackson ran after police arrived, and an officer fired during the pursuit. The GBI said Jackson was pronounced dead and that a gun was found next to him but did not say if he fired at police.

The officer is on administrative leave while the GBI investigates.

“The Rome Police Department understands the value of every human life and will work diligently to maintain transparency throughout this investigation,” Rome police Chief Denise Downer-McKinney said.

The incident marks the 10th officer-involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate this year.

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