Carrie Hall Fatally Shot by Bartow County Law Enforcement During Felony Traffic Stop Following Armed Confrontation; Georgia Bureau of Investigation Probes Use of Deadly Force Against 50-Year-Old Cartersville Woman

BARTOW COUNTY, GA – A woman identified as 50-year-old Carrie Hall of Cartersville, Georgia, was fatally shot by law enforcement officers during a felony traffic stop on Wednesday evening, May 28, 2025, following a series of events that allegedly began with Hall discharging a firearm at a private residence. The fatal confrontation occurred around 8:40 p.m. near the intersection of State Route 20 (Canton Highway) and Conference Center Drive, according to a preliminary report released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), which has assumed the lead in the ongoing officer-involved shooting investigation.

This case now stands as the latest in a string of fatal encounters between civilians and police in the state, and it has already raised questions regarding the protocols followed during high-risk traffic stops, the handling of armed suspects, and the use of deadly force by officers during standoff situations.

Sequence of Events: What Authorities Say Happened

According to statements obtained by GBI agents from law enforcement personnel present at the scene, the chain of events that culminated in Hall’s death began earlier that evening when she allegedly arrived uninvited at a residence within Bartow County. At this residence, Hall reportedly discharged a firearm. The homeowner, whose identity has not been released to the public, recognized Hall and was able to provide her name to the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. The nature of Hall’s relationship with the homeowner has not yet been detailed, and officials have not indicated whether she was targeting the residence or firing the weapon indiscriminately.

Upon receiving the homeowner’s report and the associated threat involving a discharged firearm, deputies from the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched efforts to locate Hall. Working in coordination with officers from the Cartersville Police Department, deputies located her vehicle traveling in the vicinity of State Route 20 and Conference Center Drive in Cartersville.

Given the report of a firearm having been discharged earlier in the evening, the stop was treated as a felony traffic stop, a law enforcement maneuver typically employed when there is probable cause to believe that the driver is armed, dangerous, or has committed a serious crime. These stops often involve multiple officers with weapons drawn, strict positioning of law enforcement vehicles to limit suspect mobility, and the issuing of highly controlled verbal commands designed to de-escalate potentially violent situations while protecting officers and nearby civilians.

The Confrontation: Armed Exit and Officer-Initiated Gunfire

According to law enforcement accounts as conveyed through the GBI’s initial findings, Hall exited her vehicle during the stop while visibly armed with a firearm. Officers on the scene reportedly issued numerous verbal commands, ordering Hall to drop her weapon and surrender. These commands, according to official interviews, were ignored.

Exactly what transpired between the moment Hall exited her vehicle and the shots being fired remains unclear. Officials have not stated whether Hall pointed the weapon at officers, made verbal threats, or moved in a way that law enforcement interpreted as imminently dangerous.

At some point during this tense standoff, officers from both the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and the Cartersville Police Department opened fire. Multiple rounds were reportedly discharged, and Hall sustained fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The GBI has not yet disclosed how many officers fired their weapons, how many rounds were fired, or whether body camera or dash camera footage exists and has been reviewed. Those specific details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.

Aftermath and Investigation

No officers were physically injured during the incident. Standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in Georgia mandates that the GBI conduct an independent investigation into the use of deadly force. That process includes collecting physical evidence from the scene, interviewing all involved parties and witnesses, reviewing any available video footage, and conducting forensic analysis, including ballistics and autopsy results.

The GBI will compile its findings into a comprehensive report, which will then be turned over to the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors will determine whether the use of force was legally justified under Georgia law, which allows law enforcement officers to use deadly force if they believe their lives or the lives of others are in immediate danger.

As of now, the officers involved in the shooting have not been named. It is unclear whether they have been placed on administrative leave, which is a common departmental policy in use-of-force incidents. The names and badge numbers of the involved deputies and officers, as well as their length of service and disciplinary histories, may be requested under Georgia’s Open Records Act but have not yet been released.

Community Response and Concerns

Though the investigation is still in its early stages, the incident has already sparked concern among community members and advocacy groups who have increasingly scrutinized police use of force across Georgia and the nation. With very limited public details available about what Hall did or did not do in the moments before she was shot, there is mounting pressure for transparency from local officials and law enforcement agencies.

Advocates have called for the release of any body camera footage to provide greater clarity and accountability. “When a civilian loses their life at the hands of law enforcement, the community deserves a clear, factual, and transparent explanation,” said one local resident who asked not to be named. “We need to see what happened, not just be told after the fact.”

Others have expressed concern about how mental health, de-escalation tactics, and tactical decisions during felony traffic stops factor into situations like this, particularly when the suspect is armed but stationary.

In recent years, Georgia has made efforts to provide expanded training to law enforcement officers in crisis response, use-of-force alternatives, and communication during volatile encounters. However, critics argue that real-world implementation remains inconsistent across counties and departments.

Who Was Carrie Hall?

Little is publicly known at this time about Carrie Hall. No criminal record has been mentioned in public statements, and law enforcement has not stated whether she had any prior history of violent behavior or mental illness. Friends or family of Hall have not come forward publicly, and no statements from representatives have been released to the media.

The circumstances that led Hall to allegedly discharge a firearm at a residential property remain one of the central unknowns in the GBI investigation. Until the agency concludes its work and releases findings, a full understanding of her actions and state of mind on the evening of May 28 remains elusive.

Legal and Policy Implications

This incident could potentially lead to policy reviews or renewed calls for reform at the local and state levels, depending on the outcome of the investigation. Questions that may arise from this case include:

• Were proper protocols followed during the traffic stop?
• Did the officers attempt to de-escalate the situation in all feasible ways?
• Was the use of deadly force necessary and proportionate?
• Could alternative tactics have been deployed that may have resulted in a non-lethal outcome?

The District Attorney’s review, while focused on legality, will not necessarily address broader policy or tactical concerns, which are often the subject of internal affairs reviews or independent oversight panels.

Next Steps

The GBI has not provided a timeline for completion of its investigation, which could take weeks or months depending on the complexity of the case and the volume of evidence. Once the report is finalized and turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, a decision will be made regarding whether criminal charges or administrative actions are warranted.

In the meantime, Carrie Hall’s death becomes part of a continuing and often contentious national dialogue about policing, civilian encounters, and the fine line officers must walk between protecting themselves and the public, while also preserving life wherever possible.

This is a developing story. More information will be provided as the investigation continues.

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