The Georgia Bureau of Investigation continues to attempt to combat news reports in the aftermath of the death of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran who was shot and killed on January 18 after he fired a weapon at a GSP Trooper.
On Monday, the GBI said the following via Twitter:
“Today, the GBI received confirmation from a firearms transaction record that in September 2020, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran legally purchased the firearm that was used in the shooting of a GSP trooper.
Bodycam questions – The Task Force consisted of several agencies. The officers who were near the incident at the time of the shooting were not wearing body worn cameras. Although the shooting is not captured on bodycam, there is bodycam footage of the aftermath.
There have been numerous inaccurate media and on-line reports about this officer involved shooting incident that occurred January 18th. We’re providing this update to address the widespread misinformation that is occurring.
Please review our full statement below to read the investigative facts that we have learned so far. This continues to be an ongoing investigation.”
What the GBI has not stated, however, is that the Troopers were not wearing body worn cameras because the Georgia State Patrol does not utilize body worn cameras at all.
As previously reported in press releases:
January 18, 2023
In an ongoing effort to ensure that the site of the future City of Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is safe and secure, the GBI, along with other law enforcement partners, conducted an operation to identify people who are trespassing and committing other crimes on the property.
At about 9:00 a.m. today, as law enforcement was moving through the property, officers located a man inside a tent in the woods. Officers gave verbal commands to the man who did not comply and shot a Georgia State Patrol Trooper. Other law enforcement officers returned fire, hitting the man. Law enforcement evacuated the Trooper to a safe area. The man died on scene. The injured Georgia State Patrol Trooper was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. A handgun and shell casings were located at the scene. The GBI is working the officer involved shooting and the investigation is still active and ongoing. The identification of the man who died is pending next of kin notification.
During the planned operation, several people were arrested and taken to the DeKalb County Jail. Charges are pending and updates will be provided later.
Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office & DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office who are jointly prosecuting this case.
Members of this joint task force include the GBI, Atlanta Police Department, Georgia Attorney General’s Office, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, FBI, DeKalb County Police Department, Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).
January 19, 2023
The man who died in yesterday’s officer involved shooting has been identified as Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, 26.
During the multi-agency operation at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center that began on January 18, 2023, approximately 25 campsites were located and removed.
Additionally, mortar style fireworks, multiple edged weapons, pellet rifles, gas masks, and a blow torch were recovered. There were three people who were contacted who provided their names to authorities and were free to go.
The following people were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism and criminal trespass, with additional charges pending:
- Geoffrey Parsons, age 20, of Maryland
- Spencer Bernard Liberto, age 29, of Pennsylvania
- Matthew Ernest Macar, age 30, of Pennsylvania
- Timothy Murphy, age 25, of Maine
- Christopher Reynolds, age 31, of Ohio
- Teresa Shen, age 31, of New York
- Sarah Wasilewski, age 35, of Pennsylvania
January 20, 2023
We are releasing a photo of the handgun that was in Manuel Esteban Paez Teran’s possession when a Georgia State Patrol trooper was shot on January 18 at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The handgun is described as a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm. Forensic ballistic analysis has confirmed that the projectile recovered from the trooper’s wound matches Teran’s handgun. Other preliminary information released in this case is consistent with the investigation so far.
January 23, 2023
There have been numerous inaccurate media and on-line reports about the officer involved shooting incident that occurred January 18th. We’re providing this update to address the widespread misinformation that is occurring.
• Today, the GBI received confirmation from a firearms transaction record that in September 2020, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran legally purchased the firearm that was used in the shooting of a GSP trooper.
• Bodycam questions – The Task Force consisted of several agencies. The officers who were near the incident at the time of shooting were not wearing body worn cameras. Although the shooting is not captured on bodycam, there is bodycam footage of the aftermath.
This continues to be an ongoing investigation.
