Officer shoots man and 2 dogs during welfare check

ATLANTA, Ga. (ANF/Gray News) — A Georgia police officer shot a man and his family’s two dogs early Thursday in front of the man’s four young children, according to his wife.

Kelsy Lackey said they called 911 just after midnight on Bishop Road in Fairburn because she was worried about a mental health episode involving her husband Dustin’s sister.

Fairburn police said officers were called to the area about a woman sitting in the road. They drove the woman back home, and as they arrived, two dogs allegedly charged the officers.

One of the officers opened fire, hitting both dogs and Dustin Lackey.

“The next thing I know, my husband starts screaming, my kids start screaming,” Kelsy said.

According to Kelsey, the officer told the family to get the dog as the situation unfolded.

“The officer started screaming again, ‘Get your dog, get your dog.’ We’re trying to get to the dog, but this officer has a weapon,” she said.

Dustin said he was shot while trying to leash the dogs.

“I was trying to get my hands on him to wrap him up and bring him back in the house so he didn’t get shot again. In that process, I got shot in the foot,” he said.

Fairburn police requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to take the lead in the investigation, which is standard procedure anytime an officer shoots someone. Agents spent several hours overnight collecting evidence, taking pictures and questioning witnesses.

Both dogs survived. The family says one was shot in the chest and the other in the nose. The dogs are being treated at a veterinarian’s office.

Kelsy said she is grateful no one was killed, but said she worries her children, ages 2, 6, 7 and 9, will take time to recover from what they witnessed.

“It hasn’t really set in yet. I feel like the most traumatizing part of it was my daughter screaming and crying, hoping that her dogs and her daddy weren’t dead,” she said.

Dustin said he hopes the officer who shot him is held accountable. His sister is OK.

Fairburn police referred inquiries to the GBI.