Georgia State Patrol Officer Shoots Man Near East Lake Golf Club

A Georgia State Patrol officer shot an Atlanta man Sunday evening near the East Lake Golf Club.

The shooting victim, Gerald D. Williams Jr., 32, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment.

GSP Capt. Paul Cosper gave the following account:

Williams, driving a gold Saturn, was attempting to drive his vehicle in a restricted area near the intersection of Alston Drive Southeast and Green Avenue.

A GSP officer stopped him and informed Williams the area was restricted. The area has been closed off to general traffic because of the ongoing PGA Tour Championship by Coca-Cola.

A verbal altercation ensued and the officer attempted to arrest Williams.

Williams began to drive off, dragging the officer. Another state trooper, shoot at Williams twice, striking him. The officer being dragged sustained minor injuries

Cosper said the officers are on administrative leave for five days, as is standard procedure following a shooting.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will begin an investigation as will the Georgia State Patrol's Internal Affairs division into the shooting, Cosper said.

This is the second significant incident near the golf club since Friday.

On Friday, a gunman kidnapped and carjacked three teens and attempted to rob five other people.