Police Shooting Critically Injures Athens Man

ATHENS, GA — A man injured during a police shooting Monday afternoon at a local day center serving the homeless community is in critical condition, authorities said.

Officers responded around 4:30 p.m. in the 200 block of North Avenue after receiving a call about a disturbance involving a bladed weapon, Athens-Clarke County Police said Monday.

An employee at the day center saw a 44-year-old Athens man shouting outside the front door of the center, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

When the staffer opened the door to check on the man, authorities said the man yelled at the employee and held knives in his hands.

The worker then closed the door and notified an off-duty ACCPD officer at the center, authorities said.

The officer then requested backup from additional officers, and when they arrived, authorities said the officers approached the man.

They gave him verbal commands to drop the knives, but he refused to comply and began stepping toward the officers, the GBI said.

An officer then shot the man, who police said was taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center following the shooting. He was in critical condition, authorities said.

No officers were injured in the shooting; however, authorities said the officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave.

The ACCPD Office of Professional Standards is conducting an administrative investigation.

Once the GBI's investigation is completed, the case file will be given to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.