The GBI says the early investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting Friday morning in Forsyth County shows the gun the suspect had was a black BB gun with laser light.
A Forsyth deputy shot 31-year-old Anthony Viadero of Cumming around 3:20 a.m. on October 25 after a police chase. Viadero’s ex-wife reported he was at her house off of Georgia Highway 369 in violation of a temporary protective order, the GBI says.
Officers located the suspect and pursued him. Authorities successfully deployed stop sticks, ending the chase. The officers reported Viadero exited his vehicle with a gun pointed at them.
“Viadero quickly advanced on the officer directly behind him with his gun drawn, despite verbal commands,” GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles states in a news release. “One officer fired at Viadero, striking him.”
Viadero was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate the shooting which is standard procedure when officers are involved. The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur conducted an autopsy as part of the investigation. Once the probe is complete, results will be turned over to the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
This is the 70th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been asked to investigate so far this year.
