Police shoot, kill man accused of firing at officers

GBI is investigating 85th officer-involved shooting of the year.

A man was shot and killed by Columbus police Wednesday after he allegedly fired at officers, authorities said.

Police were called to a home in the 4200 block of Earline Avenue around 2 p.m. for a domestic disturbance, according to a news release. The GBI, which is investigat- ing the incident, said a second 911 caller reported see- ing a man shooting a handgun into the air.

Once officers arrived, they encountered a man who “took off running and fired a shot,” Columbus police Chief Freddie Blackmon told reporters during a news conference, the Columbus Ledger-en- quirer reported.

The shot struck one of the officers in the center of his ballistic vest, the GBI said, prompting him to return fire. The suspect, Reginald Lamont Grant II, 30, was struck multiple times and died a short time later, authorities said.

The officer was taken to a hospital and has since been released, according to the GBI. He was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the completion of an investigation by the department’s office of professional standards, the police department said.

The GBI also will conduct its independent investigation, and once completed it will turn over its findings to the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

Wednesday’s incident is the 85th officer-involved shooting the state agency has investigated this year. By the same time last year and in 2020, there had been 68 and 67, respectively.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation may contact the GBI’S Columbus Field Office at 706-5657888. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi. georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.