Two Georgia police officers were injured in a shootout with a suspected burglar at a gun store in Smyrna early Saturday morning.
The incident occurred around 12:16 a.m. when police responded to a 911 call regarding a break-in at Adventure Outdoors, a large gun store and range located along South Cobb Drive, roughly 13 miles northwest of Downtown Atlanta.
Upon arrival, officers from the Smyrna and Cobb County police departments encountered an armed suspect inside the store.
A shootout ensued, with officers returning fire, ultimately killing the suspect. His identity has not yet been released.
Two officers from the Smyrna Police Department were wounded during the exchange of gunfire and were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A SWAT team later secured the store, ensuring no additional suspects were inside.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation GBI is leading the investigation into the incident.
Smyrna Police Chief Keith Zgonc expressed his frustration over the situation, emphasizing the growing trend of suspects attacking law enforcement officers.
Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer echoed these concerns, noting the recent killing of two officers in the metro Atlanta area.
Given the store’s size and the fact that it holds approximately 18,000 firearms, there was a swift and significant police response.
At this time, it is unclear whether the suspect intended to steal weapons from the store, which was closed when the burglary occurred.
Both police chiefs expressed anger over the suspect’s willingness to harm officers during the confrontation.