DeKalb Police Officer Charged with Fatal Shooting of 19-Year-Old Man
Derrick Harris Jr., 37, has been terminated from the DeKalb County police department after being charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. The charges stem from an incident where he fatally shot a 19-year-old man during an arrest on a Tuesday evening. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that Harris will be booked into the DeKalb jail. DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson described the death as a tragedy and emphasized the county's commitment to transparency and integrity. Harris first joined the DeKalb police in 2014 but voluntarily resigned in 2020. He returned to the department in March of this year. The incident has raised concerns about police accountability and the use of force. A statement from the agency indicated that they are aware of the situation and are cooperating with the investigation. The community is awaiting further details as the investigation progresses.
