Georgia police officer shot, suspect killed at dental clinic

MCDONOUGH, Ga. — A single gunshot critically injured a police officer and killed another man Thursday as the two struggled after the officer responded to a report of a disturbance at a dentist office southeast of Atlanta, authorities said

Henry County police Officer Michael Smith was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and was in critical condition Thursday afternoon, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Natalie Ammons said. The hospital is among the main trauma centres for the Atlanta area.

Staff at the dentist office called 911 around 8 a.m. to report a man causing a disturbance. Smith responded and began talking with 53-year-old Dimaggio McNelly of McDonough, Ammons said.

McNelly became combative and the officer fired his stun gun multiple times, but it had no effect. The gunshot was fired from the officer’s gun as the two struggled after McNelly lunged at the officer, Ammons said.

Ammons said it wasn’t immediately clear which man pulled the trigger.

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McNelly was pronounced dead at the scene. The GBI was scheduled to perform an autopsy on him Friday.

The staff at the dentist office didn’t know McNelly and didn’t know why he was there, Ammons said.

Smith has been with the Henry County Police Department since 2011. Henry County police Capt. Joey Smith told reporters that Michael Smith was shot in his “face/neck area.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting at the request of Henry County police.

Henry County is about 25 miles (40 kilometres) southeast of Atlanta.

The Associated Press