Atlanta Police Will Release Footage Of Officer-Involved Shooting

ATLANTA, GA -- Law enforcement authorities will release security video footage of an officer-involved shooting that took the life of a man last month.

The fatal shooting occurred a the Atlanta Public Safety Annex Jan. 26 on the city's west side.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, which has grown amid a steady outcry from the community, which is just off Donald Lee Hollowell Boulevard.

Police identified the gunshot victim as Deondre Phillips, 24. His family members congregated at the scene when police officers gathered there to cordon off the scene.

Read more: Police shoot, kill man on city property

The incident began when two plainclothes officers smelled marijuana and approached a car, finding Phillips inside.

Phillips was evidently was startled: He exited the vehicle, but hurriedly got back into the car and began to drive off. An officer was partially inside the vehicle when Phillips pulled off, the GBI said at the time.

After conferring with Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields vowed that the video would be released on Feb. 24, according to WXIA.

“I am not pleased with the perceived lack of transparency surrounding this incident. Police shooting investigations should be characterized by two principal factors -- finding the truth and total transparency to the public," she said, according to the TV station.

"Accordingly, Mr. Howard and I agreed to sit down within the next several weeks and develop a detailed protocol for these investigations, so that the Atlanta Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, the GBI, the media, and most importantly the public will know exactly what to expect. Mr. Howard and I both agree that members of the public should work with us to develop this protocol.”

In the spirit of the transparency I require from my department, I am hereby releasing the name of the officer involved in the shooting. His name is Yasim Abdulahad. He is an 11-year veteran of the department and was assigned to the Gun Reduction Task Force at the time of the incident.”

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.

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