An Athens man was shot and killed by Athens-Clarke County Police officers Friday evening after allegedly pointing a gun at the officers.
According to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Clinton Eli Burkhalter, 42, was killed in the incident off Smokey Road. No officers were injured.
Three Athens-Clarke County Police Officers responded to the home at about 11:45 p.m. after finding a stolen car in the driveway.
The officers tried to find anyone at the home so that they could investigate further. Two officers eventually found two men in a shed in the yard.
Burkhalter had his hands behind his back and refused to show officers his hands. He later held a gun to his head. As officers took cover, Burkhalter fired several shots into the ceiling of the shed.
Burkhalter then began exiting the shed with the gun pointed at the officers. The two officers shot Burkhalter.
He fell to the ground but still had the gun in his hand. The officers maintained cover until additional units arrived. EMS arrived and pronounced Burkhalter dead.
The GBI Medical Examiner's Office will perform an autopsy on Burkhalter.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation of the incident. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review.
