On Wednesday, a Georgia State Patrol trooper was shot by a rioter who was protesting the planned Atlanta Police Department training facility, which has been dubbed “Cop City” by those opposing its construction. The rioter was shot and killed by police officers after shooting the trooper.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Department of Public Safety Colonel Chris Wright said the shooting happened around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning during a “clearing operation” of the construction site.
“Investigators say law enforcement officers were attempted to get a man out of a tent located on the property,” the outlet reported. “He did not respond to commands given to him to exit and at some point, Wright said that a protestor fired a shot, hitting the trooper. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect.”
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Michael Register said the rioter opened fire first.
“An individual, without warning, shot a Georgia State Patrol trooper,” Register said. “Other law enforcement personnel returned fire in self-defense and evacuated the trooper to a safe area. The individual who fired upon law enforcement and shot the trooper was killed in the exchange of gunfire.”
Law enforcement officers were able to get the trooper out of the area. As of Wednesday afternoon, the injured trooper is out of surgery and in stable condition in ICU, Wrist said. The injured trooper was shot in the “pelvic-area” and he was wearing a bullet-proof vest.
The identities of the trooper or the person killed in the incident have not yet been released.
