DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County Police Department said an officer shot a man early Saturday, killing him, after he "produced a firearm" as the officer gave him a ride to a gas station.
"After pulling into the gas station located at 2701 Candler Rd., the man produced a firearm," a DeKalb County Police tweet said. "Officers then discharged their firearm, fatally wounding the man."
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation later issued a release that calls into question a portion of that narrative, and the nature of whether the man "produced" a gun.
The GBI identified the man as 33-year-old Christan Smith of Ellenwood, and said that while in the parking lot of the gas station, "officers learned that Smith had an active warrant for his arrest."
"During the process of arresting Smith, officers discharged their weapons, shooting Smith. Smith subsequently died from his injuries," a GBI release said.
The GBI did not indicate that Smith ever "produced" a weapon, or otherwise revealed he had one. The GBI said a gun was "located by Smith's body."
DKPD did not provide immediate details on what transpired exactly when the man was shot, but officers said the incident began around 8 a.m. with an officer responding to a call of a "suspicious man walking on I-20."
"When the officer arrived on the scene, the officer approached him and offered a ride to the nearest gas station, safe out of harms way," a department tweet said.
The police department said the moments leading into the shooting are "under investigation" by the GBI.