Federal Fugitive Gavon “Empire” Grimes killed in Shootout with U.S. Marshals
ATLANTA,GA – Gavon “Empire” Grimes,a federal fugitive wanted on charges stemming from a 2018 armed robbery and subsequent violations of his supervised release,was killed Wednesday afternoon during an encounter with U.S. Marshals in Atlanta. The shooting occured at approximately 2:30 PM EST near the intersection of joseph E. Boone Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Grimes, 31, had been a focus of a multi-agency task force led by the U.S. Marshals Service since absconding from supervision in November 2023. he was originally sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for armed robbery in the Northern District of Georgia, but was released on supervised release in 2022. Authorities allege grimes committed new crimes while on release, prompting a warrant for his re-arrest. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Grimes discharged a firearm, initiating the exchange of gunfire that resulted in his death. No marshals were injured in the incident.
The death of Grimes underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to apprehend fugitives and maintain public safety.The U.S. Marshals Service,a bureau within the Department of Justice,is the primary federal agency responsible for fugitive apprehension. According to the agency, they apprehended over 105,000 fugitives in fiscal year 2023.The case highlights the challenges of supervising released offenders and the potential for re-offending, a central concern within the criminal justice system.The GBI is investigating the shooting.