GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Atlanta

Atlanta, Fulton County, GA (October 29, 2026) - At the request of the Atlanta Police Department (APD), GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Atlanta, GA. Rakeem Deandre James, age 33, of Lithonia, GA, was shot and killed in the incident. No officers were injured.

Preliminary information indicates that on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at about 4:20 p.m., Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers were located in the 1000 block of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard to serve an arrest warrant. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a white SUV driven by a man, later identified as James. James did not stop and drove away from the officers. James then backed the SUV into an APD patrol car before driving forward and repeatedly hitting another APD patrol SUV positioned in front of him. Officers gave James verbal commands to stop, but he did not comply. Multiple APD officers fired their weapons, hitting James several times. James was pronounced deceased at the scene.

James’ body will be taken to the Fulton County 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 Atlanta Regional Investigative Office in Conyers at 770-388-5019. 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 the investigation is complete, the case file will be turned over to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review.