By Joe Johnson
Authorities said an Athens-Clarke County police officer shot and seriously injured a man armed with a machete Saturday when responding to a report of domestic violence at a westside apartment complex.
According to police, officers responded to University Garden Apartments on Baxter Drive shortly after 5 p.m. to investigate the report.
Soon after arriving at the complex, an officer encountered a 28-year-old man who was involved in the incident, according to police.
“When officers arrived, they were confronted by a male subject from North Carolina who was armed with a machete,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a Sunday afternoon media release,
“The subject ignored commands from the officer to drop the machete and attacked one of the officers. The officer fired at the subject, striking him,” the GBI said.
In a statement issued at 10:49pm Saturday night Athen-Clarke County police identified the weapon as a knife.
"Shortly after the initial encounter, the male subject brandished a knife in a threatening manner towards our officer," police said in the prepared statement.
"Fearing for his life, our officer discharged his service weapon and struck the male in the torso," the statement said. "ACCPD provided first aid to the subject until EMS arrived to transport him to a local hospital."
At the time of the 10:49 p.m. statement, police said that the man was in "serious" condition.
Police did not immediately release the identities of the officer and the man he shot.
Because the injured man was from out of state, police said they were unable to notify his family members as of 11 p.m. Saturday.
Athens-Clarke County police Public Information Officer Geof Gilland said Sunday morning he was unaware of any change in the man’s medical condition.
The officer who shot the man was placed on administrative leave with pay while the incident is investigated internally and by the GBl.