Smyrna Police Identify Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Incident

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Photo Credit: Smyrna Police Department

The three Smyrna police officers who were involved in the March 24 shooting of a black man they were trying to arrest have been identified.

According to police, the man who fired at 25-year-old Nicholas Thomas was Sgt. Kenneth Owens. Owens has been with the department since September of 2001 and is currently the sergeant in charge of the Street Crimes Unit. The other officers accompanying Owens have been identified as Chris Graeff and Mark Cole.

On March 24, Owens, Graeff, and Cole were joined by four Cobb County police officers in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Thomas, who was working at the Goodyear inside the Vinings Crossing shopping center. Police say that when Thomas saw the officers approaching, he drove a customer’s white Maserati around the building several times in a reckless manner, and then drove straight at the officers.

More on the Killing of Nicholas Thomas From Smyrna-Vinings Patch:

• Smyrna Police Chief: Cobb PD, DA’s Office Will Investigate Officer-Involved Killing
• Family of Man Slain By Smyrna Police Want Independent Investigation
• UPDATE: Police Say Vinings Shooting Victim Drove Vehicle At Officers, One Officer Opened Fire

At this point, police say that Owens feared for his safety and fired at the Maserati, killing Thomas.

Smyrna police chief David Lee said in the days following the shooting that Cobb County Police and the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office will handle the investigation into the shooting, with Smyrna police conducting their own internal probe. Lee said he spoke with civil rights leaders to assure them that the investigation would be fair and impartial.

However, questions regarding the official sequence of events are already being asked; according to WSB-TV. witnesses said that the police account is incorrect. Additionally, footage recorded of the Maserati shows no bullet holes in the front window, which suggests that Thomas was not driving directly towards Owens and the other officers when he opened fire.

Protesters disrupted brunch at several Smyrna and Vinings area restaurants over the weekend to raise awareness of allegations racism in police shootings, including the shooting of Thomas.

Owens has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, police said.