The man who was shot and killed by police at a Mableton gas station has been identified as Clifford Jacoby Beck, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
According to a report from Channel 2 Action News on Friday, Cobb police had initiated a traffic stop at a gas station in Mableton. This action was taken after they spotted a box truck that had been reported stolen shortly before 2:40 p.m.
The police called in multiple officers to provide assistance while they pursued the truck. Their pursuit led them to a Chevron gas station located on Old Floyd Road.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), when law enforcement attempted to obstruct the truck’s path, one of the passengers inside the truck followed the police instructions and exited the cab. However, the driver, identified as 40-year-old Beck from Griffin, chose not to comply. Instead, Beck attempted to escape by driving out of the area, resulting in collisions with patrol vehicles.
According to the GBI, the truck’s tires continued to spin, resulting in both the truck and a patrol car catching fire. The police swiftly removed Beck from the truck, and medical personnel promptly offered assistance while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
Beck passed away at the hospital where he was taken.
Witnesses recounted to Channel 2’s Michael Doudna that they were in the midst of filling up their gas tanks when all of this unfolded.
According to Alexis Rivera, as they were trying to leave, he quickly got his family into their vehicle. While driving away, they could hear the police firing shots at Beck.
As we were leaving the gas station, we suddenly heard the sound of five or six gunshots. We quickly turned around and were met with a thick cloud of smoke. It seemed like almost half of the gas station was engulfed in the haze,” Rivera recounted.
The GBI is currently conducting an investigation into the incident, and the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office will be responsible for conducting an autopsy on Beck.
