Questions remain about an officer-involved shooting that leaves an Army veteran dead

More than a month after an officer-involved shooting in Habersham County that left one man dead, few details have emerged about the incident.

On Wednesday, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Kim Williams said Aaron Allen Patterson, 41, died on Sept. 20 – just 13 days after he was shot by officers at the Cameron Apartments in Clarkesville.

According to his obituary, Patterson, 41, was a U.S. Army veteran and reservist who served in Iraq. He also worked as a US mail carrier for ten years.

He was the father of three children.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell said Thursday that the four officers involved in the shooting have all returned to work. They were placed on paid administrative leave following the Sept. 7 incident.

Terrell said he concluded the decision to shoot Patterson was justified. He allowed the deputies to return to work after undergoing psychological evaluations. According to Terrell, three deputies returned to duty about two weeks ago and a fourth deputy returned on Thursday, Oct. 10.

“Our officers have all been cleared and are back to work,” Terrell said. “You send them on administrative leave because you have to relieve them psychologically. Basically, we decided it was a good shoot and that they were ready to get back to work.”

Like residents of the Cameron Apartments who were familiar with Patterson, Terrell said he believed he was likely struggling with mental health issues at the time of the incident.

“The gentleman we were dealing with (Patterson) was battling some demons,” Terrell said. “It’s not always good when relatives or family members have problems. You always want to try to get them help no matter what the situation is. We all have things going on in our lives and we all have things to deal with, so it’s just difficult.”

Terrell said he wanted to wait until the GBI investigation into the incident was completed before releasing more information.

Pistol or rifle?

Clarkesville police were dispatched to the complex for a welfare check at approximately 6:14 p.m. on Sept. 7, with sheriff’s deputies arriving as backup.

Following the incident, details released by GBI Public Affairs Director Nelly Miles indicate that officers initially spotted Patterson armed with a handgun before he took off on foot.

An officer later located Patterson and saw he was armed with a rifle, according to Miles.

A report of the incident obtained by Clarkesville police appeared to be consistent with Miles’ statement that officers had seen Patterson with two guns at different times the night before he was shot.

According to the report, when first contact was made with Patterson, he was “observed running back to the Cameron Circle Apartments with what appeared to be a handgun.”

After Habersham County officials and supporting agencies established a perimeter to locate Patterson, the report states that Patterson “was observed following several officers – this time with what appeared to be a rifle pointed in their direction.”

“Patterson was lawfully ordered to drop the rifle,” the incident report states. “Patterson then turned and pointed the rifle at the (officer). Lethal force was used. Help was provided immediately and medical personnel were requested.”

As Now Habersham previously reported, Malachai Walsh witnessed officers arguing with Patterson — who had been shot multiple times — as they tried to render aid.

Remaining questions

The GBI has refused to release further details of the incident, including how many times Patterson was shot and which officers were involved.

The agency also declined to comment on reliable information obtained by Now Habersham about evidence allegedly left at the crime scene. According to sources, GBI investigators at the crime scene missed a loaded magazine on the floor of the Cameron Apartments the night of the shooting and had to retrieve it the next day.

It is standard GBI protocol to conduct independent investigations into officer-involved shootings – the agency has been tasked with investigating 72 across the country so far this year. Now, Habersham has asked the GBI for additional information on the protocol related to local law enforcement during an ongoing investigation.

“This case is active and will be presented to the prosecutor for review upon completion,” Williams said via email Wednesday. “The case is expected to be presented to the prosecutor within 90 to 120 days of the incident.”