An 18-year-old man was shot Saturday evening after officers said they observed a drug transaction in southwest Atlanta.
Officers were patrolling near a gas station at the corner of McDaniel Street and Northside Drive when they noticed a drug transaction shortly before 7 p.m., Atlanta police Maj. David Villaroel said. When they got out of their patrol vehicle to stop the two individuals, Villaroel said at least one man was holding a gun.
Both ran off as authorities tried to approach them, the GBI said in a statement.
“The officer gave him several commands to drop the weapon as he engaged in a foot pursuit,” Villaroel told reporters from the scene.
The men ran into the Village at Castleberry Hills apartments along McDaniel Street and Greensferry Avenue, while Villaroel said officers continued giving the armed suspect several commands to drop his weapon. He was identified by the GBI as Keyuntae Whitaker.
Credit: Ben Hendren
Credit: Ben Hendren
When Whitaker reached a fence in the complex, he tried to jump over — weapon still in hand — and escape, Villaroel said. That’s when the 18-year-old was shot by officers.
“The officer subsequently discharged his weapon and struck the male ... in the rear buttocks,” Villaroel said.
Drugs were found at the scene, Villaroel said, but he did not say specifically what police recovered. No officers were injured.
Whitaker was charged with willful obstruction of law enforcement officer, possession of a weapon during the commission or attempt to commit a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, theft by receiving stolen property, loitering and failure to obey traffic control devices, jail records show. He was released from the Fulton County Jail on $12,500 bond.
Saturday’s incident was the 79th officer-involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate this year, and the seventh so far this month.
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