Investigation continues into fatal Fort Oglethorpe shootout
by Mark Andrews
Jun 30, 2009 | 2049 views | 1 1 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday said there’s no new evidence or developments in the June 24 shooting that left a Fort Oglethorpe police officer wounded and one man dead.

But some new details have emerged.

The shooting occurred at the parking lot of Chik-Fil-A on Battlefield Parkway after officers pulled over John C. Coates of Rossville to serve a warrant.

The suspect refused to cooperate and shots were exchanged. Coates died from a gunshot wound to the head. Fort Oglethorpe police officer Mitchell Moore was wounded.

Jerry Scott, special agent with the GBI office in Rossville, said GBI investigators “don’t do timelines,” as far as wrapping up the investigation. He said the GBI is waiting to receive toxicology reports from Coates’ autopsy and must complete more paperwork and submit its findings to district attorney Herbert “Buzz” Franklin.

“If it appears to be a justifiable situation, we’ll close it out,” Scott said.

Scott also said it is his understanding that four shots were fired at the scene. He said Moore did not receive a direct hit to his back, but that the bullet “grazed him.”

“It appeared (Moore) was turning sideways when it hit. It wasn’t a direct shot to the back,” Scott said.

Moore was wearing a bullet-proof vest.

comments (1)
« pwooh wrote on Wednesday, Aug 19 at 09:07 PM »
I respect the job of all police officers. They put their lives on the line each day. But i think this entire episode was wrong from the get go. If, with all he info they had on Mr. Coates, why did they attempt to apprehend him in the presence of numerous civilians,and why did they attempt to taze a man who was inside his vehicle where they did not have clear aim. I believe Mr. Coates was pushed into a confrontation from which he was not going to walk away.With all the experience of both the officers, why was the situation pushed? Knowing innocent passerbys may be injured or worse killed. By either the police or by Mr. Coates, why would they pursure the situation. They knew his frame of mind was compromised, and according to the press they claimed him to dangerous. Why did they press the poor man. I believe this was amajor cluster of mistakes. A sad situation for all concerned.
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