GBI Investigating Athens Police Shooting

ATHENS, GA -- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into a police shooting Saturday in which an Athens officer shot a man who was hanging out in a grocery-store parking lot in the early-morning hours.

According to preliminary reports, Athens-Clarke County Police officer David Kelley was on routine patrol at about 3 a.m. Saturday when he stopped at the Golden Pantry, at 2290 Barnett Shoals Rd.

He said he saw two men pouring liquor into a cup and that he also saw a firearm in the possession of one of the men -- 22-year-old Justin Tramell Scott.

Kelley gave multiple commands to Scott, police said, when Scott reached for his gun. That's when Kelley fired shots, striking Scott.

After being shot, Scott ran away and was apprehended by another officer a short distance away. Scott was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine whether the shooting was justified. The bureau's findings will be turned over to the Clarke County District Attorney's office.