Officer Gerald Walker of the Atlanta Police Department has been identified as the officer involved in the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Linton Blackwell outside 5 Paces Inn in Buckhead on October 11, 2025. Walker was working an off-duty security job at the time when bar staff called for assistance with a disruptive patron

Officer Gerald Walker of the Atlanta Police Department has been identified as the officer involved in the fatal shooting of 44-year-old Linton Blackwell outside 5 Paces Inn in Buckhead on October 11, 2025. Walker was working an off-duty security job at the time when bar staff called for assistance with a disruptive patron FOX 5 Atlanta.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Blackwell attempted to reenter the bar from the back parking lot. He walked to a vehicle, retrieved an item, and placed it in his waistband. The officer approached Blackwell, issued commands regarding a firearm, and then discharged his weapon, striking Blackwell. A handgun was recovered at the scene Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Family members of Blackwell have stated that he was shot multiple times, including in the back, and was pronounced dead at the scene. They describe him as a loving father and a respected figure in the community WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta.

The GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be submitted to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review Georgia Bureau of Investigation