Georgia Bureau of Investigation

News Release
Contact: ASAC Chris DeMarco
706/565-7888
For Immediate Release
March 23, 2016

GBI Investigates Metro Narcotics Officer

Involved Shooting in Columbus
Columbus, GA - On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation (GBI) responded to the scene of an officer involved shooting at the
request of the Columbus Police Department.
At approximately 6:30 a.m., the Metro Narcotics Task Force, a multi-agency narcotics unit that
consists of Columbus Police Department, Muscogee County Sheriffs Office, Harris County
Sheriffs Office and Russell County Sheriffs Office (Alabama) law enforcement officers,
executed a knock and announce search warrant at 4218 Oates Avenue in Columbus, Georgia.
When officers made entry into the residence three people inside the residence fled out the back
door to include Russell Napier, 48. Additionally, task force agents also had arrest warrants for
Russell Napier for the sale of methamphetamine. At this time, Russell Napier is not in custody.
While agents were moving through the residence identifying themselves as police officers, a task
force agent attempted to enter a locked bedroom and upon forcing entry encountered Brian
Napier, 36. Brian Napier allegedly charged the task force agent which resulted in the task force
agent firing one shot that struck Brian Napier in the left arm, grazing his side. The task force
agent from the Harris County Sheriffs Office was not injured. Additionally, task force agents
also located five more people inside the residence at the time of the incident. Three of those five
people were later arrested for unrelated charges.
The search warrant was halted immediately after the shooting and the GBI was requested to
investigate the shooting incident. The Columbus Police Departments Office of Professional
Standards is handling the internal investigation. The task force agents name is not being
released at this time.
Brian Napier remains in the hospital and continues to be treated for his injuries. The GBI will
conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the
investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District
Attorney's Office for any action they deem appropriate.

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