This screen grab from a Clayton Police officer’s dashcam video shows Brett Bush running across the top of his wrecked car as the officer orders him to stop. Moments later Bush was dead.
Dashcam video of a fatal shooting by a Clayton Police Officer appears to corroborate officials’ version of what happened the morning Brett Dontae Bush was killed. The 28-year-old Lithonia man died after being shot following a police chase and wreck.
The incident began around 3:09 a.m. on February 1 when the officer attempted to stop a silver Honda Accord for speeding on GA Highway 441 South in Clayton. The vehicle was traveling 68 mph in a 45 mph zone, officials say.
When the officer tried to stop the car, the Accord accelerated and a chase ensued. The Accord turned onto Rickman Road and ultimately crashed in a private drive at 547 Warwoman Road.
“Upon arriving at the scene, the officer gave verbal commands for the subject to remain in the vehicle,” a GBI press release states. “The subject exited the rear window and made his way onto the roof of the vehicle. The subject then, armed with a knife, jumped off the hood of the vehicle towards the officer.”
“He’s trying to break the glass and get out. I don’t know if he has anything. I can’t see him.”
The GBI says the male subject, later identified as Bush, then advanced towards the officer, swinging the knife at him, and the officer “fired multiple gunshots at the subject.” Bush was struck and died at the scene.
Graphic video shows deadly encounter
The video released late Friday on the Clayton Police Department Facebook page offers a graphic, disturbing view of events the morning of the shooting. It shows the patrol unit chasing the Honda and the suspect’s car crashing and catching fire in the driveway of the Mountain View Health Care Center nursing home on Warwoman Road.
The officer approaches the wrecked vehicle with his gun drawn. He orders the occupant to remain inside. “Stay right there. Don’t you move. Do not move,” he shouts.
As the officer moves towards the driver side of the car he shouts repeated warnings to the suspect. He then radios Dispatch telling them he’s unable to see inside of the car, apparently because of the smoke from the engine fire. “He’s trying to break the glass and get out. I don’t know if he has anything. I can’t see him,” the officer says over the radio. At that moment the subject exits the vehicle through the back window, runs across the top and hood of the car and lunges at the police officer, hitting the ground.
The suspect stabs at the ground with what appears to be a knife then gets up and starts running towards the officer, repeatedly swinging the object in his hand in the officer’s direction. The officer orders him to “stay right there” and warns “stop or I’ll shoot you.” A voice, apparently that of the suspect, can be heard saying “I don’t give a…” as shots ring out. At least three shots are fired, Bush falls to the ground and the officer stands over him, holding him at gunpoint as backup arrives.
Faint wheezing and moaning sounds can be heard on the video indicating Bush may have initially survived the shooting. At one point in the video, the officer references the suspect’s “shallow breath.”
Rabun County deputies arrive and secure the scene, making sure there’s no one else in the vehicle. The arresting officer then handcuffs the suspect and begins rendering aid approximately two-and-a-half minutes after the shooting. He and the deputies on scene continue rendering aid until EMS arrives.
(WARNING Graphic video. Click here to view.)
These screen grabs from the video show the succession of events.
An autopsy on Bush was scheduled Friday at the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in DeKalb County. GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles says once the state investigation is complete the case will be sent to Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Georgia Christian for review.
The officer, whose name the GBI has not yet publicly released, remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
