Suspected shoplifter shot by police at Chamblee Walmart identified by GBI

Trail of blood found along path of deadly police chase

A suspected shoplifter was shot and killed by Chamblee police on Thursday afternoon after a pursuit from a local Walmart ended in a nearby apartment complex. Officers initially responded to a shoplifting call at the Chamblee Tucker Road store, where a "brief scuffle" ensued before the suspect fled toward The Oliver apartments.

CHAMBLEE, Ga. - A suspected shoplifter fleeing police officers at the Chamblee Walmart was shot and killed after investigators say the man pulled out a gun at a nearby apartment complex on Thursday afternoon.

The man was identified on Friday morning as 29-year-old Travis Damonta Harris. 

What we know:

According to Chamblee Police Chief Michael Dieppa, officers arrived just before 4 p.m. responding to a call of shoplifting. After a brief scuffle inside the store during which a shot was fired, the man broke free, running out of the store and crossing Chamblee Tucker Road into the Oliver apartment complex.

"There was an active foot pursuit behind the subject as he fled," Dieppa said during a press conference. "They were able to follow him from different angles and basically came to a point where they confronted him again in the parking lot."

The pursuit ended in the apartment parking lot, where police say the man pulled out a gun.

"Unfortunately, the offender had a firearm rather than following the commands of the officers," Dieppa said. "He confronted the officer, brandished the firearm and unfortunately was shot by them."

Harris died at the scene. Investigators found blood inside a restaurant along the chase route, suggesting the man may have been hurt before the final confrontation even began.

While the officers involved were not shot, they did not walk away completely unscathed. The chief noted they were treated for minor injuries on-site.

"We obviously mourn the life of somebody who was tragically shot during a shoplifting call," Dieppa said, while adding that he was thankful the officers were not seriously harmed.

Dig deeper:

Chief Dieppa acknowledged that this specific Walmart has seen this kind of violence before, pointing to another officer-involved shooting involving a shoplifter back in 2024. He blamed the location's proximity to the MARTA station for making it an easy target for "transit shoplifters."

What we don't know:

Police have not specified how many rounds were fired or which of the two officers discharged their weapons.

It is not yet known what items the suspect was allegedly attempting to shoplift before the pursuit began.

What's next:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now looking into the shooting, and the two officers involved are on administrative leave.