Deputy Cleared In Bartow Officer-Involved Shooting

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CARTERSVILLE, GA -- The district attorney for Bartow County has cleared the sheriff's deputy under investigation for the fatal July 2015 shooting of a 47-year-old resident.

Rosemary Greene, the district attorney for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, told Patch her office cleared Anthony Parker, a deputy with the Bartow County Sheriff's Office, of any wrongdoing in the shooting death of Darren Billy Wilson.

Wilson was killed July 22 by Parker as he allegedly “charged (at) one of the deputies while yelling threats at the officer,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously said.

Greene said the investigation took several months because the office had to wait on a slew of reports for the case file, including Wilson's autopsy, any toxicology reports and ballistics testing conducted in connection to the case.

"We take into account the whole thing," she said.

The fatal turn of events started when two deputies -- Parker and fellow deputy Nick Thompson -- responded to a call around 3:20 p.m. at 318 Mansfield Road near White. The officers met with a resident, who said the man -- later identified as Wilson -- who was yelling and shouting threats.

See also

• Police Identify Emerson Home Invasion Victim Found Shot On I-75
• Police ID Man Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting

Greene said officers entered the heavily wooded area, and noted Wilson appeared to be arguing with someone. It turns out that Wilson was the only person in the area, and he was observed sitting on the ground against a tree.

Wilson was wearing only boxer shorts and tennis shoes, and was holding a large branch in his hands, an object Greene said was measured by the GBI as being two feet long and similar to the circumference of a baseball bat.

The officers began to give Wilson loud verbal commands, but Greene said he stood up and charged "aggressively" towards the deputies.

The deputies tried to use a Taser on Wilson, but the vegetation in the area thwarted its effectiveness. Greene said Parker then discharged his department-issued firearm at Wilson. The district attorney said Parker's first and second shots didn't stop Wilson, but the third shot was finally able to stop the man.

Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene, and the deputies were not injured.

“Based on everything that I have...it appeared that Mr. Wilson was an immediate threat to the officers at the scene," Greene said.

Greene added her office will continue to take this and other incident similar to the shooting seriously, and will continue to investigate them and render any decision necessary based upon the facts outlined in the case file.

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