Cobb County

Family of man shot, killed by Cobb County police officer after traffic stop speaks out

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is releasing new details in a police shooting that left a driver dead in Cobb County.

The GBI said a Cobb County police officer attempted to pull over a driver who was driving recklessly in the area of South Loop and Powder Springs Road in Marietta around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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The driver, identified as 28-year-old Devonte Dawayne Brown, of Austell, pulled over but then refused to comply with the officer and then drove off, GBI said.

The GBI said multiple officers from the Cobb County Police Department and Cobb County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop Brown. At one point, the officers attempted to box in the vehicle. During this incident, the GBI said Brown attempted to get away and hit multiple police vehicles.

As officers were trying to take Brown into custody, a Cobb County police officer shot Brown. Brown was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“I love my brother. Police, they just shot him,” Justice Brown, the victim’s brother, told Channel 2′s Chris Jose. “It definitely wasn’t justified. They definitely were not supposed to shoot him.”

Cell phone video obtained by Channel 2 Action News captured the moment shots were fired. In the video, you can hear nearly a dozen gunshots.

Police also say that Brown has been arrested three times this year on domestic violence charges.

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The GBI said a handgun was found in Brown’s vehicle.

When asked if Brown flashed the gun or fired it, a GBI spokesperson said agents will look through all available video and interview witnesses, including the officer who shot Brown and deputies who assisted in the chase.

One officer suffered non-life threatening injuries after the GBI said he was hit by Brown’s car.

This is the 62nd officer-involved shooting the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2021.

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