Georgia Deputy Wounded in Off-Duty Shooting, Suspect Killed

An off-duty Fulton County, Georgia, sheriff’s deputy was wounded, and an armed suspect was killed in a shootout in southwest Atlanta late Monday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says around 5:15 p.m., Fulton County Sheriff’s Office deputy Lt. Gerald Johnson was flagged down by a witness to an armed robbery at a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store. The witness, a Krispy Kreme employee, indicated the robbery suspect was still in the area, Atlanta News First reports.

The GBI says Lt. Johnson located the robbery suspect around the corner from Krispy Kreme. As the deputy approached the robbery suspect, state investigators say the suspect began shooting at the deputy and the Krispy Kreme employee. The sheriff’s office said the suspect was armed with a semi-automatic rifle.

The deputy took cover behind a car and returned fire, mortally wounding the suspect, according to the bureau.

Lt. Johnson was shot in the hand. He was taken to a hospital, treated and released.