The dash cam footage showing the dramatic moment when a Georgia police officer shot and killed a man wanted on numerous drug charges has been released by authorities.
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The GBI says Columbus native Brent Brannon was killed by Emerson police officer Rokert Smith after an altercation during a traffic stop.
The incident started when Officer Robert Smith pulled over an SUV for a tag issue in Emerson, which is about 38 miles northwest of Atlanta.
Smith then discovered the driver, Brent Brannon, had outstanding warrants from Columbus for trafficking heroin and was considered armed and unsafe. Smith was alerted in that the wanted gunman was armed and risky.
In the video, Smith is seen approaching Brannon and inquiring about the tag violation.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation continues its probe into last week’s fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred along Interstate 75 in Bartow County.
WSBTV The footage showed the officer firing more than a dozen bullets into the auto.
‘Step out of the auto for me, ‘ Smith asked of Brannon, moments before deploying his Taser that was ineffective. Moments after, listeners could hear wails of pain coming from the dying suspect.
“Shots fired. Shots fired”, Smith radios to other officers.
“He pulled a gun on me”, Smith tells the other officer.
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Smith has been placed on administrative duty while the GBI looks into the shooting, officials said. The officer then reaches for his firearm, warns the driver to “drop your gun” and shoots about a dozen rounds. According to his obituary, Brannon was a veteran, having served 4 years in Afghanistan.
