CLAYTON — The residents and staff of a Rabun County nursing home are safe after a pre-dawn officer-involved shooting near that facility Thursday.
The incident, outside Mountain View Health Care Center on Warwoman Road in Clayton, was the result of a vehicle pursuit and wreck.
At approximately 3:09 a.m., a Clayton police officer initiated a traffic stop for speeding (68 mph in a 45-mph zone) on a Honda Accord on U.S. 441 South in Clayton, according to the GBI.
“Immediately upon attempting to stop the vehicle, the Accord accelerated and a chase ensued,” according to a press release from GBI. “The Accord turned onto Rickman Road and ultimately crashed on a private drive at 547 Warwoman Road, Clayton.”
That is the area of Mountain View Health Care Center.
“Upon arriving at the scene, the officer gave verbal commands for the subject to remain in the vehicle,” according to the GBI. “The subject exited the rear window and made his way onto the roof of the vehicle. The subject then, armed with a knife, jumped off the hood of the vehicle toward the officer. The subject advanced toward the officer, swinging the knife, at which time the officer fired multiple gunshots at the subject. The subject was struck and died at the scene.”
As is standard with officer-involved shootings, the GBI was called and is actively reviewing the incident.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave.
An autopsy on the unnamed male is scheduled for a Friday, Feb. 2, at the GBI State Crime Lab in Decatur.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be provided to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
Clayton police, Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and the Stephens County Coroner’s Office, which was requested by Rabun County officials, responded.
Cindy Centofanti is news director for WRBN/WGHC in Clayton and provided early details from the scene of the incident.
