08/11/2026
🚨 UPDATE: Preliminary information from investigators indicates that at approximately 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the McDonald’s located at 1370 Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE in Cartersville after receiving a report of a man pointing a gun at a McDonald’s employee.
A deputy arrived in the area and located the man in a nearby parking lot. The GBI identified him as 31-year-old Marcus Maurice Williams of Cartersville.
Investigators say Williams was still holding a gun when the deputy encountered him. The deputy reportedly gave Williams verbal commands, but authorities say he refused to comply.
According to the GBI’s preliminary investigation, Williams then pointed the gun at the deputy and fired. The deputy returned fire, striking Williams.
Williams was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
Williams’ body will be transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be performed.
The GBI says its investigation remains active and ongoing.
🚨 UPDATE: The Bartow County coroner later confirmed that one person had died. That person's identity will be released once next of kin is notified.
A camera near that intersection showed police cars in the parking lot of the Grassdale Suites motel.
Witnesses said the incident began at the McDonald's next door and ended at the motel. Nobody at the McDonald's was injured, and the restaurant is open, witnesses said.
According to Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap, deputies responded to the McDonald's at 1370 Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE after somebody pulled a weapon on an employee around 6:30 a.m.
🚨 BREAKING: OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING UNDER INVESTIGATION AT GRASSDALE SUITES
CARTERSVILLE, GA — Bartow County Sheriff Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting this morning at Grassdale Suites.
Photos taken by Bartow News 1 at the scene show a large area of the parking lot secured with crime-scene tape, multiple evidence markers on the pavement, sheriff’s vehicles and investigators working throughout the property.
Witnesses at the scene tell Bartow News 1 that the person involved in the shooting was killed. That information has not yet been officially confirmed by authorities, and the identity of the individual has not been released.
