The man killed in an officer-involved-shooting in Athens last week has been identified as Joe Baythavong, age 33, of Hoschton. The GBI which is, as a matter of routine, investigating the incident announced this development in the case Wednesday.
ORIGINAL RELEASE. POSTED MAY 12:
At the request of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Athens. One man was killed in the incident. No officers were injured.
Preliminary information indicates that on May 12 about 12:45 a.m., Athens-Clarke County Police Department officers responded to the 1000 block of Hull Road regarding a 911 call involving a male who had fired a gun. The caller indicated that more than one gunshot had been fired.
When officers arrived at the scene, they encountered a man matching the caller’s description. Officers gave several verbal commands for the man to put down the gun, but the man refused to comply. The man then pointed the gun to his head. The man fired the gun, and one officer fired their weapon. The man was hit by gunfire, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.