Atlanta officer won't be charged in fatal shooting outside bar
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An Atlanta police vehicle sits parked outside State Farm Arena. Photo: Courtesy of Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
An Atlanta police officer won't face criminal charges for fatally shooting Devon Anderson while off duty outside a bar in South Fulton.
The latest: The Fulton County District Attorney's office ended its investigation without charging Melvin Potter in the Aug. 5, 2024, shooting. The decision became public during the City Council's Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee meeting on June 22.
- Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for the office, told Axios in a statement Tuesday that the evidence shows Potter was "justified in using deadly force in this matter pursuant to Georgia law on self-defense."
- "As a result of that finding, this office did not present charges to a grand jury," he said. "The case is now closed."
What they're saying: Valerie Anderson, Devon Anderson's mother who has attended nearly every Atlanta City Council meeting calling for Potter to be charged and fired from the force, said Monday she is "not going anywhere."
- Anderson told council members she will now shift her attention to ensuring Potter is not only terminated from the Atlanta police force, but is not hired by any other law enforcement agency.
- "Melvin Potter is a danger to the community, and he needs to be held accountable," she said.
- The Atlanta Police Department told Axios in a statement that Potter is still employed with the agency and is "on paid administrative duty."
- Potter could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Catch up quick: The South Fulton Police Department asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate the shooting, which was reported at around 1am at a bar in the 5000 block of Old National Highway.
- Potter was leaving the bar when he got into an argument with a group that included 38-year-old Devon Anderson, the GBI previously said in a news release.
- WSB reported that Anderson was fatally shot by Potter while he was trying to de-escalate the confrontation.
- The GBI said Potter was charged with obstruction by South Fulton police for refusing a blood draw but was not charged with any other offenses.
- The GBI turned over the case file to the Fulton County District Attorney, which made the decision not to file criminal charges.
Between the lines: The 2024 shooting wasn't Potter's first encounter with law enforcement while off duty.
- In 2021, he was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after a Coweta County sheriff's deputy pulled him over on Interstate 85, according to 11 Alive.
- Potter was convicted in April 2022 and sentenced to one year of probation and prohibited from drinking alcohol, the news station reports.
What's next: APD Deputy Chief Jason Smith told the public safety committee that the Office of Professional Standards will now begin its internal investigation into Potter.