Man shot when police try to break up fight at Henry County sports bar

A man was shot early Monday morning when officers tried to break up a fight outside a Henry County sports bar, police said.

GBI agents investigate an officer-involved shooting in the parking lot of the Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill in Henry County. Officers intervened in a fight outside the bar, according to Henry County police. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Officers patrolling in the area noticed a disturbance in the parking lot of the Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill on Ga. 155 near McDonough just before 2:30 a.m., and they intervened, Henry County police Capt. Joey Smith said.

The GBI was called to investigate, which is standard procedure in use-of-force cases.

According to GBI spokeswoman Natalie Ammons, one of the officers “encountered a subject with a handgun. The officer gave verbal commands during the incident and subsequently discharged their firearm numerous times, striking the subject.”

The man, identified Tuesday as 27-year-old Lance Kersey, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in serious condition. The GBI said he was stable as of noon Monday but did not provide an update on his condition Tuesday.

No officers were injured.

The investigation appeared to focus on a sedan with a shattered window in the parking lot.

This was the second time the GBI was called to investigate a shooting involving a police officer this year.

A man was fatally shot by an off-duty officer at a liquor store near Stone Mountain late on New Year’s Eve, according to the GBI. DeKalb police requested the GBI’s assistance New Year’s Day, which is why the agency considers the incident its first officer-involved shooting case of 2019.

MORE: 'Thankful to be here': Man is caught in gunfire during deadly officer-involved shooting

ALSO: Armed man shot 'immediately' by off-duty officer at DeKalb liquor store, GBI says

The shooting outside Tailgaters also occurred days after a Henry County officer killed in the line of duty was laid to rest. Officer Michael Smith, 33, was shot Dec. 6 during a struggle with a man at a McDonough-area dentist's office. He died as a result of his injuries on Dec. 28 and was honored at a funeral Thursday.

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Henry County officer remembered by hundreds: 'He saved lives that day.'