FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reopened Fulton Industrial Boulevard late Friday night and released the name of the man killed in the shootout with police there.
Agents said he was Rashan Cofield, 29, of Atlanta.
The two officers shot during the encounter are South Fulton Police Lt. Charles Cook and Fulton County Police Officer Zahir Muid.
Muid is at home recovering. Cook is in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.
The shooting happened just after 11:30 a.m. Friday.
GBI agents said preliminary investigation results show Cofield was standing on a median in the middle of Fulton Industrial Blvd. when Muid stopped him.
Cook happened to pass the area and stopped to assist. Agents said evidence shows Cofield pulled out a pistol, ran and started shooting.
Several people were watching when it happened.
Chuck Stephens described it to Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco.
“I ran up under the car. He wasn’t trying to shoot me, but he was trying to shoot everybody over there,” Stephens said.
Others described seeing Cook fall to the ground.
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“When he was down on the ground, he was crying and calling out for help, and all I could do at that point was say a prayer because the gunman was still shooting at other people,” Jeremy Snow said.
Investigators said Muid ran after Cofield, returning fire.
They said bullets hit both men. Cofield died. Muid is OK.
“He’s doing fine. His wounds were kind of superficial. The conversation I had with him, he was grateful Lt. Cook was able to stop,” said South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows.
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As police wrapped up their evidence-gathering efforts Friday night, some neighbors were left worried for their safety. Others said it’s a reminder that police are there patrolling.
“They’re doing their job. I hate to see that it happened,” Stephens said.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office will not conduct an autopsy on Cofield.
The GBI is leading the investigation, which is protocol in cases involving officers.
Agents then give their findings to the district attorney, who decides if the officer-involved shootings are justified.
Muid joined the Fulton County Police Department in December 2024. He was treated and released from Grady this afternoon.
Cook formerly served with Fulton County Police prior to joining the City of South Fulton Police Department.
The Fulton County police family is keeping Cook in their prayers as he recovers.
Earlier this week, the South Fulton Police Department lost one of its officers. Lt. Helio Garcia was killed in a head-on collision in the line of duty when another driver veered into his lane and hit him.
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