A man was shot by Newnan police after running from a traffic stop Monday night, officials said.
State troopers first tried to stop Azavious Lavonta Echols’ speeding motorcycle on Ga. 34 and pursued him into Newnan, according to the GBI. They found the motorcycle abandoned behind a restaurant.
Newnan police and Coweta County sheriff’s deputies took over the pursuit from there. During a search of the area, Echols was seen inside a bail bonds business on Greison Trail about 9 p.m., GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said.
“It appeared that Echols had forcibly entered the location,” Miles said in a news release. “Upon making contact with Echols, officers began giving him verbal commands.”
One Newnan officer told the other responding officers that Echols had a gun, she said. The officer fired at Echols, striking him once in the leg.
“At the time of the incident, Echols was in possession of a handgun and was reportedly reaching for it when he was shot,” Miles said.
Echols, 25, of Woodbury, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center. His injuries are not life-threatening.
No officers were injured, according to the GBI.
On Wednesday, Newnan police identified the officer who fired gunshots as Officer Cornell Johnson. The officer, who has worked in law enforcement for nearly two decades, has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is common policy during GBI investigations.
It is the 50th officer-involved shooting the state agency has investigated in 2020. It follows four days after the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks by Atlanta police. His death has reignited civil unrest within the city.
Brooks, 27, was shot while running from officers in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant after he was found asleep in the drive-thru. He had taken an officer’s Taser, officials said.
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Brooks’ killing was the 48th officer-involved shooting the GBI investigated. Thomaston police were involved in the 49th officer-involved shooting, Miles said.
Details on that incident were expected to be released Tuesday.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also tracks officer-involved shootings that don't involve the GBI, and those numbers sometimes differ from the GBI's tally.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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