Georgia officer fatally shot, suspect remains on the loose

EASTMAN, Ga. – A police officer in a small, central Georgia city was shot and killed by a suspect who remained on the loose Sunday morning, authorities said.

Special agent Scott Whitley of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations told The Associated Press that Eastman Patrol Officer Tim Smith was fatally shot about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in a residential area of the city located about 60 miles southeast of Macon.

Whitley said Smith was responding to a suspicious person call when he encountered the suspect, exited his patrol car and was shot. The suspect fled the scene.

Smith was in his early 30s but no further information about him was immediately available. Whitley said an unidentified suspect is being sought and an investigation is ongoing.

Smith was not wearing a body camera.

Hours after Whitley was shot, police in suburban Atlanta exchanged gunfire with two men. The early Sunday morning incident left one officer wounded with non-life threatening injuries and is believed to be unrelated to Smith's shooting. Both suspects in the Atlanta shooting were taken into custody.