GBI Releases Identities of Cop, Driver In Fatal Shooting

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The identities of the Emerson police officer and the man involved in Wednesday’s fatal shooting in Bartow County have been released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Columbus resident Brent Andrew Brannon, 27, was shot and killed by Emerson officer Robert K. Smith, 24, just before 11 a.m. Oct. 14. According to the GBI, Smith was working traffic enforcement on Interstate 75 when he was informed of a tag violation on a gold sport utility vehicle traveling northbound on the highway.

Smith conducted the traffic stop, and identified Brannon as the driver.

“A driver’s license check alerted officer Smith that Brannon should be considered armed and dangerous and is an escape risk,” the GBI said in its press release.

The GBI also states Brannon was allegedly wanted on warrants issused by the Columbus Police Department for trafficking in heroin, possession of a sawed off rifle, sale of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Smith requested backup to help facilitate the arrest, but before that backup arrived, Brannon allegedly became “non-compliant and officer Smith deployed his Taser at him,” the GBI said.

The state agency said the Taser was “ineffective,” and the driver allegedly pointed a handgun at Smith. Smith then fired at Brannon, “striking and killing him,” the GBI said.

The incident was captured on Smith’s dash cam video.

Brannon’s body will be transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur for the autopsy, which will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 16.

The GBI is conducting an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. Once that’s completed, it will turn over the case to the Bartow County district attorney for “any action they deem appropriate.”

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