GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in DeKalb County

DeKalb County, GA (February 20, 2020) – On Thursday, February 20, 2020, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) to investigate an officer involved shooting.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 3:28 p.m., DeKalb County 911 received a distress call from a female who provided no name or address.  The call was traced to the 1300 block of Balsam Drive in Decatur.

Two DKPD officers were dispatched to the area and canvassed the neighborhood in an attempt to locate the female.  While on-scene, John Daniel Dixon, 75, came out of his residence with a handgun and pointed it at the officers.  The officers gave verbal commands for Dixon to drop the weapon.  The officers fired their weapons during the incident, striking Dixon.  Dixon died at the scene.  An autopsy will be performed by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation and once complete will be turned over to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for review.