Police: Deadly shooting at Atlanta park was self-defense

Police investigated a fatal shooting at Washington Park.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Police investigated a fatal shooting at Washington Park.

A man acted in self-defense when he fatally shot another man at a northwest Atlanta park Saturday night, police said.

Based on the investigation, police are treating the shooting as self-defense and have not made any arrests, police spokeswoman Lisa Bender said Wednesday in a statement.

“The case will be forwarded to the Fulton County DA’s office for further investigation,” she said.

RELATED: Man fatally shot at Atlanta park ID'd

The victim was found dead when officers arrived at Washington Park on Ollie Street at about 8:15 p.m., police spokesman Sgt. John Chafee said in a statement. He was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office as Brian Bell, 41, of Decatur.

A preliminary investigation into the shooting indicates Bell got into an argument and physical fight with another man inside the park, Chafee said. They separated, but they were involved in another confrontation a short time later.

At some point, police said, “one of the males produced a firearm and shot the other.”

Police said they recovered the gun and briefly detained one man for questioning. He was later released, and no charges were filed.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misidentified Brian Bell as a felon based on a misinterpretation of information released by the Atlanta Police Department. Bell was never convicted of a felony.

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