GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Bartow County, Georgia

Bartow County, GA (March 18, 2026) - At the request of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Bartow County, GA. Justin Eric Hardin, age 45, of Canton, GA, was shot and killed. No deputies were injured during the incident.

Preliminary information indicates that on March 17, 2026, at about 3:00 p.m., Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Bartow Cartersville Drug Task Force agents attempted to execute an arrest warrant and vehicle stop in connection to a drug investigation on Hardin. A vehicle stop was initiated in the parking lot of the Days Inn motel off Highway 20 in Cartersville, Georgia. Hardin drove off from the initial stop and was pursued by deputies a short distance before deputies performed a PIT maneuver on the SUV under the overpass at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Highway 20. Once deputies stopped the vehicle, they gave commands for the occupants to exit the vehicle. A woman identified as Angela Green, age 44, of Acworth, GA, exited the passenger side of the vehicle and was taken into custody. Hardin did not comply with commands to exit the vehicle. Deputies deployed OC spray into the vehicle to get Hardin to exit the vehicle. Hardin did not comply and deputies then approached the vehicle and broke the driver’s side window to remove Hardin from the vehicle. Hardin then pointed a firearm at deputies and shot at them. Deputies then shot Hardin.

Hardin was pronounced dead on the scene.

A large amount of suspected methamphetamine was found in the vehicle.

Green was arrested in connection with the drug investigation and was taken to the Bartow County Detention Center.

An autopsy will be completed on Hardin at the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office.

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