Police in Georgia say an officer was “ambushed” in the dark and shot dead after police responded to reports of a man going door to door shooting a long-barrel gun, according to local media.
“They were trying to protect this neighborhood from someone who was shooting,” the Fulton County police assistant chief, Gary Stiles, told WXIA News, early on Wednesday morning. “And they had no other option but to do their job. And the way it appears to me, they were ambushed without warning.”
Prayers going out for our fallen bother FCPD Officer & his family who lost his life last night in the line of duty serving the public. #atl
— Fulton County Fire (@FCFRD) March 4, 2015
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our Fulton County officer killed in the line of duty tonight, and our entire Police family
— FultonCountyGeorgia (@FultonInfo) March 4, 2015
The officer was shot some time after 12.43am, when residents of the Cedar Grove subdivision in Fairburn called police, WSB-TV reported. Police have not released the names of the officer or suspect, who was arrested.
The officer, described as a 22-year veteran of the force, was pronounced dead at about 4.30am at Grady Memorial hospital, according to local media.
The suspect was also injured during the incident, and is being treated at the same hospital.
“This is a dreadful event, we are asking for the prayers and support from all of the community,” the Fulton County police chief, Cassandra Jones told WSB-TV.
Fairburn is a city of about 13,900 residents, about 20 miles south-west of Atlanta.
