GBI investigates fatal officer-involved shooting after Walmart shoplifting call

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading an inquiry into a fatal officer-involved shooting that began with a shoplifting call at the Walmart on Chamblee Tucker Road. The confrontation on Jan. 15 ended with a 29-year-old man fatally shot after officers say he displayed a firearm and did not follow commands to drop it.

Local law enforcement said an off-duty Chamblee police officer who was working a loss-prevention or security detail at the store and other officers confronted the man after an alleged shoplifting incident. According to the account released by investigators, a struggle preceded the man fleeing into a nearby apartment parking lot. Officers reported that the individual displayed a firearm and failed to comply with commands, and responding officers fired, striking him. The man was later identified as Travis Damonte Harris, 29.

All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the GBI conducts its investigation. The agency has said it will forward its case file to the DeKalb County District Attorney when the probe is complete, which will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

The shooting raises immediate workplace and operational questions for Walmart employees, particularly associates working in asset protection and those paired with off-duty or contract security. Loss-prevention staff and store managers often coordinate with off-duty law enforcement to respond to alleged thefts; incidents that escalate to deadly force put scrutiny on how those partnerships are managed on site. For hourly associates who witness or assist during confrontations, the event can have lasting safety and morale consequences and may prompt calls for clearer protocols, additional training, or changes to how incidents are de-escalated.

Customers and store teams can also face short-term operational disruption after such incidents, including investigations, temporary closures, or heightened security presence. For companies that rely on off-duty officers for security work, the case could accelerate internal reviews of contracting practices, role definitions, and incident reporting requirements.

The investigation by the GBI and the subsequent decision of the DeKalb County District Attorney will shape whether criminal charges are filed and how policy changes might follow. For Walmart employees and loss-prevention professionals, the case underscores broader debates about the use of off-duty officers in retail security, on-site de-escalation tactics, and the protections and procedures employers provide to frontline staff.