A district attorney has cleared multiple officers and deputies of any wrongdoing after they fatally shot a man last year who murdered his sister and killed three dogs.
District Attorney Herb Cranford said the LaGrange police officers and Troup County deputies were justified in their use of force, according to a news release. The man, identified as 65-year-old Sam Burt, was seen pointing a gun at the law enforcement officers moments before they shot and killed him, the DA added.
The incident took place Sept. 5 at the Riverside Lane home of 68-year-old Sally Harrison, who was Burt’s sister. He had been living in her basement after he was involved in a firearm-related dispute with some of his neighbors in Alabama, Cranford’s release said.
Just before 2:50 p.m., Harrison’s husband called 911 and said his wife had been shot by Burt, the release said. Harrison’s husband performed CPR on the woman until paramedics arrived.
They pronounced her dead at the scene. She had been shot three times, including once in the head.
Before authorities arrived, Burt fled from the home and went to the nearby West Point Lake along with three dogs, the release said. Officers and deputies found Burt on a dock, where they told him to show his hands.
Burt refused and began to walk toward them while still holding a gun, the release said. He had shot all three of the dogs, but one was still alive.
Burt told the law enforcement officers that he needed to put that last dog down, which is when he raised his gun, the release said. The DA said he pointed the firearm toward the deputies, which is when they shot him multiple times.
Burt fell into the lake, and the deputies rushed into the water to get him out, the release said. However, he died before paramedics arrived.
The GBI was called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, AJC.com previously reported.
RELATED: GBI: Cops fatally shoot man who killed sister in Troup County
Agents recovered Burt’s handgun at the scene and performed his autopsy. It showed that he had a blood alcohol level of .15, which is nearly double the legal limit to drive in Georgia.
The GBI handed over its findings to Cranford in September, and he released his decision to not charge the law enforcement officers Friday.
“The District Attorney finds that the officers who used deadly force against Burt were justified in defending themselves and each other from Burt after he pointed his gun in their direction,” the DA said.
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