ADEL, Ga. — A suspect is dead and an officer in the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds after a stolen car investigation in south Georgia ended in gunfire Saturday morning.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is now handling the shooting investigation, the shooting happened just around 2:15 a.m. when two officers with the Adel Police Department responded to a report of a stolen car. The city of Adel, located in Cook County, is about 186 miles south of Atlanta.
Police told agents that as they arrived in the 700 block of Tony Street, they observed a man, later identified as 31-year-old Steve Newsome, in the passenger seat of the car.
The GBI reports that there was an exchange of gunfire as Newsome got out of the car.
"One of the officers was struck multiple times and taken to the South Georgia Medical Center," the GBI said in a statement. "She is currently in stable condition."
Adel Police later identified her as Officer Nitschke, asking the community to keep her in their thoughts and prayers.
The GBI reported that Newsome was also hit multiple times adding that, despite emergency measures at the scene by first responders, he died at the scene. His body is being sent to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
Once the GBI's investigation is complete, agents will turn over their findings to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review.
As the investigation continues, authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the GBI Douglas Office at 912-389-4103 or the Adel Police Department at 229-896-2224. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-8477 (TIPS) or online on the GBI tip website.
