The murder suspect who was fatally shot by officers Tuesday in South Georgia had a carbon dioxide-powered BB air gun, not an actual firearm, during the incident, the GBI said Wednesday.
Ricky Jerome Boyd, 20, died after an incident with Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police officers and U.S. marshals, the GBI said in a news release.
Officers went to the 100 block of Marian Circle about 6:15 a.m. to serve a warrant to Boyd, who was suspected in a weekend shooting that left a 24-year-old man dead, authorities said.
When they arrived, officers secured the outside of the residence, GBI agent Bill Bodrey said in a release Wednesday.
Authorities announced their presence and requested that everyone inside the house come outside, according to Bodrey. Several people who were physically able left through the front door.
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Boyd came out and confronted officers with what appeared to be a firearm, Bodrey said.
“However, it was later determined to be a CO2 powered BB air gun,” Bodrey said.
Boyd did not comply with officers’ commands and raised the air gun toward the officers. Several officers fired, hitting Boyd, who died later at a hospital.
Sgt. Sean Wilson of Savannah Chatham police was hit by gunfire during the incident, Bodrey said. He was treated at a hospital and has since been released. It is not clear where the gunfire that hit the officer came from.
The GBI is investigating, which is standard protocol in use-of-force cases.
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