Commerce, Georgia - On Thursday, February 18, 2016 at approximately 1:03 AM, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Athens Regional Office was requested by the Commerce Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting incident that occurred during a reported domestic disturbance at 125 Ashford Lane in Commerce, GA.  This incident resulted in the death of Joseph Noel, age 25.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 12:14 AM of the same date, the Commerce Police Department was notified by dispatch of a domestic call which indicated that a male resident was beating his wife at 125 Ashford Lane.  Three officers (Officers David Jackels, Kimberly McCulloch-Grant, and Sergeant Kay Denton) arrived at the residence and were met by Brian Noel, father of the deceased, who instructed the officers to enter the property to detain Joseph Noel.  Officers entered the residence to search for Noel and located him hidden in the attic of the residence.  Once Noel was located, officers began to issue verbal commands at which time Noel held up an object that officers believed to be a firearm and refused to comply with the officers’ instructions.  During the verbal exchange, Noel charged the officers and the officers deployed a taser and fired shots, striking him.  Noel was shot in the leg and was transported to the Athens Regional Medical Center where he later died. 

Noel will be transported to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy will be conducted.   

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for any action they deem appropriate.

Contact Information:

Mike Ayers - (706) 552-2309