GBI investigators have identified the subject involved in the Gainesville officer-involved shooting Monday evening.
Dispatch received a call Monday around 5:30 p.m. about a pedestrian, who is now identified as Raphael Michael Torres, 35, of Gainesville, who was involved in a hit-and-run on West Ave. at Comer St. in Gainesville.
"This was not a typical hit-and-run that we're used to responding to. The caller advised that a male subject had acutally walked into their vehicle and the subject at that point then fell to the ground as if to make it look as though they were struck by the vehicle," Sgt. Kevin Holbrook with the Gainesville Police Department said.
Witnesses of the incident reported Torres as an impaired male stumbling down the middle of the street when a truck at a low speed attempted to go around him. Torres walked into the vehicle and fell down from the impact. He was then asked to remain on the ground in fear he would worsen potential injuries, but he refused and walked away from the scene, GBI officials said in a release Tuesday.
The Gainesville Fire Department responded to the call and followed Torres into a wooded lot, but soon after backed-out and called for assistance.
"Fire department personnel stated the subject actually requested medical attention, and then at some point the subject took a turn. He became very erratic, very aggressive. The subject reached in his pocket, pulled out a knife and then began to threaten the fire department personnel with that knife," Holbrook said.
Reportedly, two Gainesville Police Department officers arrived at the scene and approached Torres in the wooded lot - that's when Torres moved toward the officers and brandished the knife.
The two officers used what Holbrook described as de-escalation tactics in an attempt to calm Torres, but none worked. Torres then lunged at an officer with the knife, he said.
Nelly Miles with the GBI said in the press release that in response to Torres’ actions, one officer discharged his weapon multiple times while the second officer shot Torres with a taser.
Torres was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he underwent surgery. He remains in critical condition.
No officers or fire personnel were injured during the incident. The case remains under investigation by the GBI.
According to the GBI, this is the 65th officer-involed shooting to take place statewide this year. It is the second officer-involved shooting in Gainesville since Sept. 20, 2019.
