Suspect Reaches for a Gun Before He Was Shot by an ACCPD Officer

[kellyhound]

Early Saturday morning, Athens-Clarke County police were patrolling and stopped at the Golden Pantry on Barnett Shoals Road to address two males seen pouring liquor into a cup.

According to the special media release, one of the two males was in possession of a firearm. "A confrontation" ensued between an officer and the male, according to the Athens-Clarke County media release about the incident.

The GBI release stated that the officer "gave multiple commands to [the male] when [he] reached for his firearm at which time [the officer] fired shots, striking [the male]."

The armed male fled on foot and officers were able to catch and arrest him a distance close by, according to the media releases. The male was transported to the hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening injury, according to the releases.

Due to the policy of the ACCPD, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to investigate the incident further. When the investigation is complete it will be turned over to the Clarke County District Attorney's Office for any action that may follow.

The video from Officer David Kelley's body camera shows Kelley approaching a car in the gas-station parking lot.

A young African American man—identified by police as Justin Tramell Scott, 22—is in the back seat and gets out. (Police said earlier that Kelley approached Scott and another man because he saw them pouring liquor into a cup.)

Kelley is questioning him with his gun drawn when Scott appears to make a move to draw a gun on his hip. Kelley fires, and Scott runs away. (Authorities said Saturday that Kelley fired twice, hitting Scott once in the face, and his injury was not life-threatening.)

Kelley chases him around the store, at one point getting close enough to fire his Taser. Scott falls down, then gets back and keeps running.

The chase continues down Barnett Shoals, where another officer pulls up in a police car and catches Scott.

ACC Police Chief Scott Freeman told the Athens Banner-Herald that he believes the video exonerates Kelley.

“The officer was placed in a position where he had no other choice but to defend himself or face being shot and killed right there in the parking lot,” Freeman said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation of the shooting and will turn the results over to the Clarke County District Attorney's office.

[Susan]

Wow, how unfit was that cop? He was wheezing.

[Dennislp3]

he managed to do pretty good I thought...he was sprinting, while holding at least one arm up...while talking into a radio and shouting

[Swd_cooper]

fine job by the officer! remember..you don't have to always catch the guy just stay with him long enough to give out direction of travel!!!! lol

[Oswald2001]

The cop should have been legally allowed to shoot "Tramell".

Who named him that?

He low life Ghetto Trash Mama "Cloaca"?

[pistachio81]

Originally Posted by slyksleevemuckyey

Wow, how unfit was that cop? He was wheezing.

let's have you in a full sprint for a timed minute and post the video of your reaction, we'll be waiting

[snookiea]

The hell? What kind of cop holds his service weapon cocked to the side like that?