Release:

GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Coweta County

OCTOBER 12, 2020

Newnan, GA (October 12, 2020) – On Sunday, October 11, 2020, at approximately 10:14 p.m., the GBI was requested by the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved shooting.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 9:21 p.m., the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to respond to the BP truck stop, 1389 Highway 29 South, Newnan, Georgia, in reference to an attempted break in of a tractor trailer. The caller reported that the individuals responsible for the attempted break in drove away in a U-Haul truck.

Shortly thereafter, a deputy located a U-Haul truck nearby at the Pilot truck stop,1645 Highway 29 South. The deputy observed two males standing at the back of an opened tractor trailer. The deputy stopped and attempted to make contact with the males. The males subsequently drove away in the U-Haul at a high rate of speed. Upon exiting the parking lot and onto the highway, the U-Haul hit a Mazda CX-7 head on, causing non-life-threatening injuries to two occupants who were transported to a local hospital.

The driver of the U-Haul, later identified as Jackie Harris, 45, traveled south on Highway 29 at a high rate of speed and reportedly caused cars to run off the road. Harris also swerved towards patrol vehicles, attempting to run officers off the road. Upon reaching exit 35 at Interstate 85, Harris traveled northbound and continued to swerve towards patrol vehicles. Deputies deployed multiple stop sticks in an attempt to stop the U-Haul. Upon reaching exit 47, a deputy fired multiple gunshots from his patrol vehicle into the U-Haul, striking Harris multiple times. The U-Haul subsequently struck the interstate wall and stopped.

Harris was given medical treatment at the scene and transported to Atlanta Medical Center, where he is being treated. The passenger in the U-Haul, Mario Keen, 42, was transported to Piedmont Newnan Hospital for treatment and released to the Coweta County jail. There were no officers injured during this incident.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once the investigation is completed, the case file will be turned over to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office for review.