GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Lamar County, Georgia

Barnesville, Lamar County, GA (July 8, 2025) – At the request of the Department of Natural Resources, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Barnesville, Lamar County, Georgia, that occurred on July 8, 2025 at about 4:50 p.m. Dante Romearo Smith, age 28, of Bowdon, GA, died in the incident. No DNR game wardens were injured in this incident.

The preliminary information indicates Smith was trespassing on a person’s property on Brent Road in Barnesville, Georgia. The homeowner contacted DNR game wardens. The game wardens responded and located Smith at the intersection of Highway 341 and Brent Road in Barnesville, GA. Smith had a knife in his hand and ran toward one of the DNR game wardens. As Smith got close to the game warden, the game warden shot Smith.

Smith’s body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab where an autopsy will be completed.

The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Towaliga District Attorney’s Office for review.