Off-Duty Atlanta Police Officer Fatally Shoots Man Outside Buckhead Bar, GBI Investigating
ATLANTA, Ga. — A 44-year-old man was shot and killed by an off-duty Atlanta police officer late Saturday night in the Buckhead neighborhood, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The incident occurred outside the Five Paces Inn and Buckhead Butcher Shop, prompting an official inquiry into what led to the deadly encounter.
Shooting Unfolded in Buckhead Parking Lot
The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the rear parking lot of the Buckhead Butcher Shop, located at 3198 Cains Hill Place NW, investigators confirmed in a report by Atlanta News First.
According to police, the off-duty officer was working security at the nearby Five Paces Inn when he was alerted about a disruptive customer attempting to re-enter the bar. When the officer confronted the man — later identified as Linton Blackwell, also known in the Atlanta music scene as B Green — he allegedly believed Blackwell may have been armed.
“I was around the corner, and I heard the whole clip empty out,” said a nearby worker named Jay, describing the chaotic moments. “When I came around the corner, the cop had his gun up.”
GBI: Officer Fired After Blackwell Reached Toward His Back
The GBI said Blackwell had been involved in an earlier argument outside the bar and was seen walking toward his car before the confrontation escalated.
“The officer followed Blackwell. Blackwell entered a car in the parking lot before putting an item in the small of his back,” the GBI said. “The officer approached and gave commands regarding a gun. The officer discharged his weapon, hitting Blackwell.”
Investigators later recovered a handgun at the scene, though it’s not yet clear who the weapon belonged to.
Victim Was a Music Artist and Father
Family members confirmed that Linton “B Green” Blackwell was a well-known Atlanta music artist, a business owner, and father of twins. Relatives said he lived near the Buckhead area where the shooting took place and were still seeking answers about what exactly transpired.
The incident marks the 60th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been asked to investigate in Georgia this year. Once the agency’s review is complete, findings will be turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for further action.
Ongoing Investigation
The Atlanta Police Department has not released the officer’s name and says he will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
This remains a developing story, and further updates will be provided as the GBI continues its inquiry into the deadly Buckhead shooting.
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