Georgia cop and two women are among four killed after bloody street shoot-out that saw boy, 12, shot in face
- Four people were killed in a bloody street shootout in Georgia on Tuesday night
- Police officer among the dead identified as Field Training Officer Henry Laxson
- He is the third office killed in the line of duty in the past month, eighth this year
The slain officer was identified as Henry Laxson, a Field Training Officer (pictured)
A police officer and two women are among four people killed last night in Georgia in a bloody street fire fight.
A 12-year-old boy was also shot in the face during the bloody shooting near the 3600 block of Jervis Court, in Rex, Georgia.
The slain cop was identified as Field Training Officer Henry Laxson, the third officer to be killed in the line of duty in the past month, and the eighth this year.
Officers were responding to multiple reports of a drive-by shooting, gunfire and domestic violence at8:40pm ET when the fire fight occurred.
Cops were met at the scene by the bloodied boy who managed to direct officers to a residence where the gunman was located.
While police administered first aid on the child, the suspect fired on the officers with a handgun, forcing them to flee to safety.
The gunman retreated into the residence and was confronted by other officers who had approached the home from its rear.
Laxson and the suspect were killed in the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Clayton County police Chief Kevin Roberts said during a Wednesday morning news conference at around 2.30am.
Another officer, identified as Alex Chandler, received a wound to his hand. Police later discovered two women dead among ‘multiple victims’ inside the home, the chief said.
The 12-year-old boy was transported to hospital, where he was listed in critical, but stable, condition in the early hours of Wednesday.
A 12-year-old boy was also shot in the face during the bloody shooting near the 3600 block of Jervis Court, in Rex, Georgia (pictured)
Police said last night they received three reports before the shootout.
The first advising there was a drive-by shooting near the 3600 block of Jervis Court in Rex; the second advised there was a female lying motionless in the yard which changed the call to a shooting; And the third advising a juvenile male was shot at a secondary location.
It was not immediately clear how the reports were connected.
Roberts said: ‘These men and women do an honorable job every day… and it’s unfortunate that we have to make these reports time and time again.
‘My heart aches for every police officer and their family that go through these type of things. These things just shouldn’t happen.’
Officers gathered outside Grady Memorial Hospital, where Laxson was pronounced dead, following the shooting, Atlanta’s WSB-TV reported.
Laxon was a veteran officer and a member of the county’s tactical team. He been commended on several occasions, according to the Clayton County Police Department Facebook page.
Suspended Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill paid tribute to Laxson last night, describing him as the ‘finest and unquestionably our very best’.
He said: ‘Laxson far exceeded all expectations of what an ideal police officer should be. I will greatly miss your smile young man. Rest easy son, the brotherhood will continue the watch from here.’
Meanwhile, Roberts said he could not yet confirm the names of the victims because their next-of-kin had not been informed. An investigation is ongoing.
Laxson is the third north Georgia police officer killed in the line of duty since November, WSB-TV reports.
Henry County Officer Paramhans Desai was shot as he attempted to make an arrest on November 5. He died from his injuries days later.
Jackson County Deputy Lena Marshall was also shot at a separate call on November 5 when she responded to a domestic incident. She died from her injuries on November 8.