Police Officers Hit by ‘Accidental Discharge’ in Georgia Incident

At least two police officers were shot on Interstate 75 in Cordele, Georgia, according to reports on Feb 11.

A suspect was killed in the incident, WFXL-TV reported.

Ashburn Police tried to stop a car when a male passenger in the vehicle began firing at officers. The male driver shot himself during the chase, while the female driver stopped the car at Exit 99. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the male suspect had a long criminal history. He apparently shot himself in the head.

While removing the woman from the car, an officer’s gun accidentally discharged, hitting two officers and the woman, WFXL said.

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The officers were treated and released from Crisp County Regional Hospital, while the woman is still hospitalized.

GBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Terry Howard said, “The officers that were injured was a result of shots fired from other officers. The investigation is ongoing. There is a lot of evidence that’s got to be collected and processed,” according to WALB-TV.

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The GBI also released a statement to WTVM-TV: “The female driver stopped the vehicle at Exit 99.  As an officer and a deputy retrieved her from the stolen car, a trooper involved in the incident had an accidental discharge that hit the two officers and the female.”

It added: “The identity of the subjects are not available for release at this point pending next of kin notifications.”

The GBI said it will now “conduct an independent investigation to determine what occurred during the incident. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the District Attorney for judicial review.”