AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage showing an officer-involved shooting of a man who pointed a gun at a deputy, according to a department news release.
The March 13 incident began when deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance, according to the release. The complainant reported that a man had broken windows at her home and stolen her firearm.
Deputies encountered the suspect walking across a road in front of a middle school with a gun and ordered him to show his hands, video shows.
Video shows the man raising a firearm before pointing it at Deputy David Hopkins, who then shot the suspect in the chest.
“[Hopkins] immediately secured the firearm and began rendering aid to [the suspect] while calling for EMS,” the Richmond
County Sheriff’s Office stated. “[The suspect] made a statement to [Hopkins] that indicated his intent for this encounter to escalate in the manner that it did.”
An independent review by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office found that Deputy Hopkins “acted lawfully and within policy” and deemed the use of force justified, according to the report.
The suspect remains hospitalized in critical condition.
