Georgia officer dies after being shot while serving warrant, police say

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Officer killed, 2 deputies wounded in Locust Grove, Georgia

Law enforcement officials were attempting to serve a warrant; the suspect is dead.

A Georgia police officer was killed Friday and two sheriff’s deputies were injured while serving an arrest warrant, police said. The slain officer was Chase Maddox, 26, Locust Grove Mayor Robert Price said, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. after two Henry County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at a residence in Locust Grove, about 40 miles southeast of Atlanta, Sheriff Keith McBrayer said during a news conference.

Locust Grove Officer Chase Maddox, 26, was killed during the incident, according to Mayor Robert Price. (Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council)

"It all happened inside the residence," McBrayer said. "They talked with the individual and after about 10 minutes of talking with him realized they were going to be making an arrest, and they were going to have issues placing him in custody," McBrayer said.

The deputies called for backup, at which point the Locust Grove officer arrived at the scene and an altercation occurred. The shooting began as officers attempted to arrest the male suspect, McBrayer said, but he wouldn't say who fired the first shot or how the situation unfolded.

There was no prior indication that the suspect would be violent, the sheriff said.

The slain officer died at the hospital, according to McBrayer, and was on the force for about five years. Maddox leaves behind a young child and his wife, who was due with their second child any day, Mayor Price said.

"We just can't believe this happened," he said.

A police officer was killed and two deputies were seriously wounded in a shooting that also left a suspect dead south of Atlanta, authorities said Friday. (AP Photo/Jeff Martin)

The shooter was also killed during the incident, authorities said, and his identity was not going to be released until family members could be notified, according to Nelly Miles, the spokeswoman for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The agency was called in to investigate the shooting.

The injured deputies were identified as Michael D. Corley and Ralph Sidwell "Sid" Callaway, according to the agency.

One of them was in serious condition and having surgery after getting hit below his bullet-proof vest, the sherrif said. The other was hit in the vest and is said to be in fair condition.

Both are veterans of the department, one of whom has served for 20 years, the sheriff said.

Parts of the surrounding area were cordoned off by police, who were also turning away individuals who didn't live in the neighborhood. A nearby elementary school was also put on lockdown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.