ATLANTA — An 18-year-old was shot by Cobb County Police as he allegedly pointed a gun at officers while running away when authorities tried to conduct a traffic stop, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He was not badly hurt and tried to hide in a manhole to avoid being arrested.
GBI stepped in to take over the investigation Friday after police were called to a hotel in Smyrna.
In a release, Cobb County Police said the incident happened near the Red Roof Inn on Winchester Parkway just before 2:30 a.m.
Officers, according to the department, found an SUV with suspects that had broken into several vehicles in the area.
"Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black Toyota RAV4 XLE when the vehicle began to flee. Officers conducted a PIT maneuver on the vehicle, at which point all four occupants in the vehicle fled on foot," police said in a statement.
They said one of the four men, identified by the GBI as the 18-year-old, emerged out of the car and "pointed a handgun at officers."
"One officer discharged their weapon striking the suspect. The suspect continued to flee on foot with the handgun and opened a manhole cover and hid inside," Cobb County Police said.
That individual was arrested and then taken to Kennestone Hospital. A 19-year-old was also arrested in the area.
A witness who was staying at the hotel, Marcus Chavers, told 11Alive he woke up around 2 a.m. and heard the gunfire, but didn't go to the window to see what was happening.
"Didn't even get out of bed, didn't wanna get hit by no stray bullet," he said.
He added that by the time he got up to go to work several hours later, he saw around 6 to 8 cars with their windows knocked out in the parking lot.
Authorities did not clarify what charges the suspects would face or if the 18-year-old is out of the hospital.
GBI will continue to investigate the shooting. Once all details have been collected, agents will turn the case over to the Cobb County District Attorney's Office for review.
This is the 92nd shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate involving an law enforcement officer this year, according to the agency.