At around 11 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2022, DeKalb County Police Officers Russell Mathis and Jordan Vance “went to a home on the 900 block of Autumn Crest Court to respond to a report of a stolen car parked in the driveway.” As reported, “While conducting their investigation, officials say they saw 37-year-old Marando Salmon inside the home. The GBI says officers identified themselves and “issued commands,” but Salmon did not comply.”
Mathis and Vance fired their weapons at Salmon. “Medics rushed Salmon to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died from his injuries, according to the GBI.” News reporting alleges that after “the shooting, officials say agents recovered a handgun from the bedroom Salmon was in.”
Reports filed regarding the event contained inconsistencies. “In their first report, the GBI says that Salmon allegedly reached for a handgun and was shot by officers. In a new report, officials say Salmon threw an object at an officer who had opened a bedroom door.” The second report elaborated: “Although the officer did not see Salmon touch a firearm, he was reaching for a nearby item,” the GBI report reads.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said “the officer told the grand jury he believed the object was a knife, but it turned out to be a cellphone.” At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, District Attorney Boston announced that Mathis was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct and that Vance was charged with reckless conduct. Mathis and Vance will surrender to the DeKalb County Jail.