DeKalb Police Fatally Shot Man In Pursuit; GBI Investigating

LITHONIA, GA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading an investigation after DeKalb County police fatally shot a man during a pursuit in Lithonia early Wednesday morning.

DeKalb County Police Department officers responded to reports of a person shot near Pine Mountain Road at approximately 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, DeKalb police spokesperson Michaela Vincent said. When they arrived, police found a car near Covington Highway that was potentially involved in the shooting.

The driver, an adult man, sped away and crashed just moments later before fleeing on foot. Police said officers ran after him and, after a brief chase, the driver pointed a weapon at the officers. This caused police to respond with gunfire, according to police, fatally wounding the man. Police did not say what type of weapon was pointed at them.

No officers were injured, police said.

Officers then discovered a person inside the driver's car suffering from gunshot wounds, and they were taken to a local hospital. DeKalb police requested that the GBI lead the investigation into the incident.

GBI investigators are working to gather more details, the agency posted on Twitter Wednesday morning.

The GBI has responded to an OIS at the request of the DeKalb County Police Department.

We are on scene (Lithonia Industrial Blvd/off I-20, exit 74) and working to gather details. pic.twitter.com/rOmBowq4Gd
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) March 31, 2021