Buckhead family demands answers after man shot by off-duty officer

A Buckhead family demands accountability after Linton Blackwell, 44, was shot and killed by an off-duty Atlanta police officer outside the Five Paces Inn bar on October 12. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reports that the officer was working an extra job nearby and responded to a disturbance involving Blackwell. Witnesses state that Blackwell returned to his vehicle to retrieve a gun before the officer fired multiple shots, hitting him in the back and buttocks. Family members, including cousin Jimmy Hill, question the necessity of firing so many rounds, calling it "cold-blooded murder. " Hill has previously experienced police violence, with his son being killed by a former officer in 2019, and he hopes for a different outcome this time.

The family visited the Fulton County District Attorney's Office seeking updates but were frustrated by the lengthy investigation timeline. Hill emphasizes the need for justice, stating he wants to see the officer indicted. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirms the case remains open, with ongoing inquiries into the shooting.