Four people, including a police officer, are dead after officers responded to a domestic disturbance call in Rex, Georgia, on Tuesday night.
Clayton County field training officer Henry Laxson was fatally shot, along with two women and the suspected shooter, according to the Clayton Country Police Department.
A 12-year-old boy and another officer were also shot, Clayton County police chief Kevin Roberts told reporters.
The boy is in a critical but stable condition in hospital, Roberts said. The officer, identified as Alex Chandler, was shot in the hand but is expected to recover.
Police said officers responded to a residence in the 3600 block of Jervis Court at around 8.40 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a child and one of the women in the front yard.
🚨🚨Chief Kevin Roberts speaks on the ongoing investigation where one Clayton County Police Officer was killed and another Clayton County Police Officer...
"The initial responding uniformed patrol officers were actually met by a 12-year-old who had been shot in the face. He was able to lead them to the residence," Roberts said.
"Upon making contact at the front of the residence, they were immediately engaged by a male suspect who was armed with a handgun and fired upon them."
The officers took cover, Roberts said, and the suspect fled to the rear of the residence.
"As he fled to the rear of the residence, he was met by tactical units who were approaching on foot. He also engaged them in gunfire, unfortunately striking two of our officers," Roberts said.
He added that tactical officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Roberts said the suspect is believed to have shot two women before exchanging gunfire with officers. He did not identify the victims or the suspect.
"The investigation is ongoing. At this time, we are not releasing the names of the victims due to the next-of-kin not being notified," the police department said in a post on Facebook.
Dozens of Clayton County officers were lining the streets near Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta early Wednesday.
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Laxson in the third north Georgia police officer killed in the line of duty since early November, according to WSB-TV.
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 shot at a separate call on November 5 when she responded to a domestic incident. She died from her injuries on November 8.
"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," Roberts added. 'My heart aches for every police officer and their family that goes through these types of things. These things just shouldn't happen."
Update at 7:10 a.m. ET on 12/1/21: This article has been updated to include additional information.
