Atlanta Officer-Involved Shooting Kills 33-Year-Old Lithonia Man, GBI Says

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an Atlanta officer-involved shooting that killed 33-year-old Rakeem Deandre James of Lithonia on Thursday, October 29. No officers were hurt.

The Atlanta Police Department asked the GBI to take over the investigation, the agency said.

What investigators say happened

Preliminary information shows Atlanta officers were in the 1000 block of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard at about 4:20 p.m. to serve an arrest warrant. They tried to stop a white SUV driven by a man later identified as James, the GBI said.

James did not stop and drove away, according to the GBI. He then backed the SUV into an APD patrol car, drove forward and repeatedly hit another APD patrol SUV parked in front of him.

Officers gave James verbal commands to stop, but he did not comply, the GBI said. Multiple officers then fired their weapons and hit him several times. James died at the scene.

His body will go to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Investigation continues

The GBI said its investigation is active and ongoing, and it will be independent. When agents finish, they will turn the case file over to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

Anyone with information can call the GBI Atlanta Regional Investigative Office in Conyers at 770-388-5019. Anonymous tips go to the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app.