Former DeKalb County Officer Pleads Guilty in 2015 Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Air Force Veteran
Former DeKalb County Police Officer Robert Olsen, 63, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, to Aggravated Assault in connection with the 2015 shooting death of 26-year-old Anthony Hill, an unarmed U.S. Air Force veteran.
On March 9, 2015, Olsen responded to an apartment complex on Chamblee Tucker Road following multiple 911 calls reporting a man acting erratically. Upon arrival, Olsen encountered Hill, who was naked and experiencing a mental health crisis.
According to the investigation, Hill began running toward Olsen with his hands out. Olsen exited his patrol car, backed away, and ordered Hill to stop. When Hill did not stop, Olsen fired twice, striking Hill in the neck and chest. Hill died at the scene. Olsen later claimed Hill attacked him and that he fired in self-defense, a claim later determined to be false.
A DeKalb County jury in October 2019 convicted Olsen of Aggravated Assault, two counts of Violation of Oath by Public Officer, and Making a False Statement. However, Olsen’s legal team appealed the convictions for Aggravated Assault and one Violation of Oath count, arguing the jury should not have seen the police department’s Use of Force Policy. The Georgia Court of Appeals overturned those two convictions, allowing for a retrial on the assault charge.
The Georgia Supreme Court declined to hear the State’s appeal. On May 28, Olsen accepted a negotiated plea to Aggravated Assault. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson, who presided over the original trial, sentenced Olsen to 15 years, with 12 years commuted to time served and the remainder on probation. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. His convictions for Making a False Statement and the related Violation of Oath by a Public Officer remain.
“It has been more than a decade since Anthony Hill’s life was cut tragically short. Defendant Olsen’s guilty plea brings this long, arduous chapter to a close and through it he has finally accepted some responsibility for his actions,” said District Attorney Sherry Boston. “We hope this plea provides [Anthony’s family] some peace.”
The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Pete Johnson, Director of Major Crimes Lance Cross, Senior Assistant District Attorney Buffy Thomas, former Chief Investigator Steve Barresi, and Victim Advocate Tina Williamson. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation led the initial inquiry.
