GBI investigating third fatal officer-involved shooting in Bartow County since July.

For the third time in six months, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting a probe into an officer-involved fatal shooting in Bartow County. Two of the cases involve sheriff’s deputies; a third, an Emerson police officer.

From Georgia Bureau of Investigation: On Saturday, January 9, 2016 the Georgia Bureau of investigation’s Calhoun Regional Office was requested by the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a deputy involved shooting incident that occurred in the 4500 block of Bartow Carver Road in Acworth. Preliminary information indicates that Bartow County Deputies were dispatched to a domestic violence call at a residence on Bartow Carver Road at about 11:15 p.m. last night (Friday). Once deputies arrived at the residence they met with the 911 caller outside the home. As deputies were speaking with the complainant, an individual identified as the complainant’s boyfriend came out of the house armed with a long gun. The deputies repeatedly commanded the individual to drop the weapon. The individual, later identified as Andrew E. Abernathy, 50, continued to advance toward the deputies and raised the gun pointing it at them. The deputies fired multiple times striking Abernathy. The deputies immediately called for emergency medical services and began performing life saving measures. He was transported to Cartersville Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office at GBI Headquarters in Decatur. The two deputies involved in the incident were not injured. The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office for any action they deem appropriate.

EARLIER CASE:

This was the second officer-involved shooting by a Bartow County Sheriff’s deputy in less than six months and the third involving law enforcement within Bartow County. In that earlier cases (based on GBI reports):

July 21: Darren Billy Wilson, 47, has been identified as the man shot by a Bartow County deputy on Tuesday. According to the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Anthony Parker is the deputy who was involved in the shooting. The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI investigate a shooting involving two of their deputies on July 21. The initial information provided to the GBI is that yesterday, at 3:22 PM the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a man who had a large stick and was threatening the caller. Two deputies responded to the scene, in the area of 318 and 538 Spring Place in White, where they encountered the man who was only wearing boxer shorts and a baseball hat. The man charged one of the deputies with the stick and was yelling threats at the deputy. The other deputy then shot the man. The man, identified today as Darren Wilson, was pronounced dead at the scene. The deputies were not injured during the incident.

Oct. 14: The Emerson Police Department has requested the GBI to investigate a shooting involving one of their officers which resulted in the death of Brent Andrew Brannon, 27, during a traffic stop. Initial information provided to the GBI indicates that on Oct. 14, 2015 at approximately 10:53 a.m., Emerson Police Officer Robert K. Smith, 24, was working traffic enforcement on I-75. At that time, Officer Smith was alerted to a tag violation on a gold sport utility vehicle traveling northbound on the interstate. Officer Smith stopped the vehicle on I-75 and identified the driver as Brent Andrew Brannon, 27, of Columbus, Ga. A driver’s license check alerted Officer Smith that Brannon should be considered armed and dangerous and is an escape risk. The inquiry also revealed Brannon was wanted on outstanding warrants for trafficking in heroin, possession of a sawed off rifle, sale of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia from the Columbus Police Department. Officer Smith requested backup to help facilitate the arrest. Before back up arrived, Brannon became non-compliant and Officer Smith deployed his Taser at him. The Taser was ineffective and Brannon pointed a handgun at Officer Smith. Officer Smith fired at Brannon striking and killing him. The incident was captured on the officer’s dash cam video. Brannon’s body will be transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur for an autopsy scheduled for Friday Oct. 16.