GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Bartow County

Bartow County, GA (August 11, 2026) - At the request of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Bartow County, GA. One man was shot and killed. No deputies were injured during the incident.

Preliminary information indicates that about 6:30 a.m. on August 11, 2026, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the McDonald’s restaurant at 1370 Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE, Cartersville, GA, in response to a man pointing a gun at a McDonald’s employee. A deputy arrived on scene and located the man, later identified as Marcus Maurice Williams, age 31, of Cartersville, GA, in a nearby parking lot, still holding a gun. The deputy gave Williams verbal commands, but Williams refused to comply. Williams then pointed the gun and shot at the deputy. The deputy returned fire, shooting Williams. Williams was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.

Williams’ body will be taken to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun at (706) 624-1424. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling the GBI Tipline at 800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile application.

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