No charges to be filed in Brumbalow shooting

In a letter to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Bridgeman wrote that his office has completed its investigation into the November 2007 incident and determined that the officer’s actions were justified.

On the afternoon of November 1, 2007, Barrow County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Brumbalow’s residence in response to a 911 call.

The 911 caller, Louise Wise, was the caretaker for Brumbalow’s mother. Wise told the Barrow County police dispatcher that Brumbalow had taken a handful of pills and was threatening to kill herself.

When the first deputy arrived on scene, Brumbalow ordered him to leave saying she would kill herself if he did not. According to the GBI report, Brumbalow then grabbed a knife and reiterated her threat.

A short time later, Brumbalow said she was going to get her gun. Deputies were unsuccessful in their attempts to prevent Brumbalow from reaching her bedroom.

At least four deputies reported either that they saw Brumbalow with a firearm or that they heard her threatening to kill them.

According to the deputies’ testimony, Brumbalow began to exit the bedroom with a firearm pointed at one of the deputies. The deputy fired three times, striking Brumbalow once.

The GBI conducted an analysis of the incident scene and determined that the evidence supported the deputies’ statements.

In his letter to the GBI, Bridgeman said the facts of the case indicate that the deputy was justified in using deadly force and that his office was closing its investigation into the matter.