Fulton police shoot, kill man who tried to pull a gun, officials say

Police said the man, suspected of loitering, ran from officers and got into a vehicle. Officers told him to put his hands up, but he “began reaching down and produced a handgun, prompting our officers to discharge their firearms,” authorities said.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he died, authorities said.

He has not been publicly identified by officials, but Paulette Smith, who told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution she was his aunt, identified the man as Damario Smith, 25.

The GBI said it is investigating but did not immediately provide more information.

Cynthia Douglas, the owner of Memezz Restaurant where the shooting took place, said she was cooking in the kitchen during the lunch rush when she heard gunshots outside. She said the person involved was one of her customers.

“My restaurant was full, and I just heard shots. Then, when I said, ‘Who’s shooting?’ they said, ‘The police,’” she said.

Smith said her nephew had just shared a meal with his stepfather at the restaurant.

After losing her son to gun violence in August 2021, Smith is devastated to find herself facing another painful loss so soon. She said Damario Smith and her son were close.

“He was the person who was there with me the whole time when my son died. The only person who didn’t leave my side,” Smith said.

It’s the second time a Fulton police officer has been involved in a shooting this month.

On April 18, Officer Zahir Muid was shot by a man in an incident that began on Fulton Industrial Boulevard, according to investigators. Rashan Jarvis Cofield had a warrant out for his arrest when he shot Muid and a South Fulton police officer, who was critically injured, officials said.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.