The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has identified the armed suspect who was shot and killed by police in Athens Friday night.
An updated press release sent to local media Saturday evening said Grovetown resident Thomas Wayne Swinford, 34, was the man shot by officers from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), who were responding to an incident on West Lake Drive that was said to involve an armed suspect.
When they arrived at the scene around 6:30 p.m., officers found Swinford brandishing what they thought to be a firearm.
Officers ordered Swinford to drop his weapon, but instead he charged at the officers with the weapon pointed in the direction of the officers, according to the statement. At that point, more than one officer opened fire, hitting the suspect. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
The GBI, who have taken over the investigation at the request of ACCPD, said the suspect was later determined to have been wielding "an airsoft replica-style handgun," and that not officers were injured in the exchange.
All officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave while the GBI's investigation takes place.
