There have been 171 fatal police shootings in Georgia since 2010, according to an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News.

Ninety-nine of those cases never went to a grand jury.

Of the nine cases presented to a grand jury for a criminal indictment, one returned an indictment — and it was dismissed.

The absence of any prosecutions points to a remarkable conclusion: As far as Georgia’s criminal justice system is concerned, police officers are always legally justified when they shoot and kill a civilian in the line of duty.

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Ernie Suggs, a reporter at the AJC since 1997, reviews a selection of articles he has contributed to during his time with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

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University of Georgia students are seen entering and leaving the main Library on the Athens campus on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez