The GBI has identified the man who was critically injured in an officer-involved shooting in Clarkesville on September 7 as 41-year-old Aaron Allen Patterson. The shooting happened Saturday evening after a Clarkesville police officer responded to a request for a welfare check at Cameron Apartments on Gabrels Drive.
“Upon arrival at the Cameron Apartments, the officer was unable to make contact with Patterson at his apartment,” says GBI Public Affairs Director Nelly Miles.
A Demorest Police Officer responded as backup and saw Patterson walking with a handgun. Patterson ran from the officers. Deputies with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the officers on scene.”
According to Miles, an officer found Patterson and saw he was armed with a rifle.
“When the officer spoke with Patterson, he turned towards the officers with the rifle. At that point, multiple officers fired at Patterson,” says Miles.
Residents reported hearing a series of gunshots, one reported possibly as many as 20, but authorities have not released any details. Miles says only that Patterson sustained “several” gunshot wounds.
Patterson was ‘having a hard time,’ neighbors say
Cameron resident Malachai Walsh says he did not personally know Patterson, “but I have seen him and his daughter a few times at the pool at the apartments.” Other residents tell Now Habersham the man, later identified as Patterson, was struggling with personal issues and “was having a hard time.”
Officers at the scene provided medical treatment until emergency medical service crews arrived. Eyewitnesses say Patterson was moving and appeared to be “fighting with police” as they attempted to administer aid.
Paramedics airlifted Patterson to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville in critical condition. Authorities say no officers were injured in the shooting.
The GBI has not released the names of the officers involved in the shooting, and it is unclear at present what their current status is.
Local law enforcement turned the investigation over to the GBI to conduct an independent investigation, which is protocol for officer-involved shootings.
Miles says once the investigation is complete, the matter will be turned over to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
