Georgia Police Officer Saved by Vest in After Suspect Opens Fire
What to Know
- The incident occurred around 1:15 a.m. during a traffic stop on Joe Frank Harris Parkway.
- Saeed Reed exited his vehicle multiple times, eventually producing a firearm and shooting at officers.
- The officer returned fire, striking Reed multiple times; both were transported to hospitals, with Reed later pronounced dead.
ADAIRSVILLE, Georgia -- An officer-involved shooting in Adairsville, Georgia, is under investigation after a traffic stop escalated into an armed confrontation that left a suspect dead and an officer injured.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) reported that the incident occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Thursday when an Adairsville Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop on an SUV for speeding along Joe Frank Harris Parkway. The driver, identified as Saeed Ahmed Reed, 26, of Clayton County, pulled into the entrance of a Mapco gas station.
According to preliminary findings, Reed exited the vehicle from the passenger side, walked around to the driver’s side, reentered the SUV, and drove through the parking lot toward another exit. The officer conducted a second stop, at which point Reed exited the vehicle again and began walking away. The officer deployed a Taser, which was ineffective.
Investigators said Reed then produced a firearm from his waistband and fired, striking the officer once in the vest. The officer returned fire, striking Reed multiple times.
The officer was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was later treated and released. Reed was also transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Authorities said three adults and one child were inside the SUV during the incident. None of the passengers were injured.
In a statement, the Adairsville Police Department said the individual involved was a wanted suspect with numerous felony charges and that the officer “was forced to return fire to protect himself” after being shot and facing additional attempts on his life.
The GBI has assumed control of the investigation, which follows standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in Georgia. Upon completion, the case file will be submitted to the Bartow County District Attorney’s Office for review.
The Adairsville Police Department stated it will not release further details until the GBI concludes its investigation.