Suspect Killed, ATF Agent Wounded in Athens Shootout

One person was killed and a federal agent was taken to the hospital after an undercover investigation ended with gunfire Tuesday afternoon in Athens.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department said special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local detectives were conducting an investigation in the 1900 block of Winterville Road around 5 p.m., when the shooting started.

According to a news release from Athens-Clarke Police, there was “an altercation” between an ATF agent and suspects Javonta Darden, 20, and Steven McKinley, 21, both of Athens.

Darden was shot and killed at the scene. McKinley was taken into custody.

The ATF agent had non life-threatening injuries, according to the news release. The AJC reported the agent was in critical but stable condition Tuesday night.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation. A spokesperson for the agency told the AJC that early indications were that one of the men shot first, and the agent returned fire.