GA Police Shoot At Car With Minors Inside After Altercation: GBI

WAYCROSS, GA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Waycross Police Department to investigate an officer-involved shooting that happened Saturday. Two teens have been charged in the incident in which the police officer fired.

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, an officer with the Waycross Police Department saw a traffic violation at the intersection of Howe and Brunell Street. The officer tried for several minutes to get the license plate information following a traffic violation of failure to stop at a stop sign. The officer did not activate his siren or blue emergency lights, the GBI reports.

As the vehicle approached the area of Walters and Greenwood Street, three juveniles — ages 9, 12 and 14 — got out and ran off in the direction of their home while the vehicle stopped.

A second officer responded to assist while the first officer followed the children in his vehicle.

As the second officer began to walk to the vehicle, police said the vehicle drove toward him. The officer fired multiple times at the vehicle, according to investigators.

Two boys — ages 15 and 16 — got out while the vehicle was still in drive, police said, before the car came to a stop further up the road.

At this time, there is no evidence to indicate that the second officer, who fired the shots at the vehicle driving toward him, shot at or near the three children who ran home, the GBI reports.

There was an altercation between the second officer and the 15-year-old boy who had exited the vehicle, police said. The boy was eventually put in handcuffs and was treated by EMS for minor injuries from the altercation, officials said.

The first responding officer came back to the initial scene of the traffic stop after hearing gunshots. The three minors went home.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Juvenile criminal complaints were filed against the 15-year-old passenger and 16-year-old driver, according to GBI.

The 15-year-old was released to his parent. The 16-year-old was placed in the custody of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

They were charged by the Waycross Police Department as follows:

• Driver, 16
  • Possession of a handgun by person under 18
  • Reckless driving
  • Stop sign violation
  • Aggravated assault on a police officer
  • Driving with no driver’s license
• Passenger, 15
  • Possession of a handgun by person under 18
  • Obstruction of an officer
  • Removal or attempt to remove firearm from an officer

Agents said Monday they have only been allowed to interview one of the children who ran home. Despite several attempts to interview the other two, officers say they have not been granted an interview.

The GBI will continue its independent investigation. There is no video, body camera footage or dash-cam tape capturing this incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI at 912-389-4103 or the Waycross Police Department at 912-287-2921.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Ware County District Attorney’s Office for review.