AMERICUS, Ga. -- Officials have confirmed that the second officer shot by a suspect in south Georgia has died.
Georgia Southwestern (GSW) State University released a statement that was relayed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation around 5:40 p.m. Thursday. In that statement, GSW Interim President Charles Patterson confirmed the death.
"We offer our deepest condolences to his family during this very difficult time," Patterson said. "Officer Smith was a bright, young and energetic officer, and he will be sorely missed."
Prior to joining the university police force, Smith worked as a deputy with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office in addition to serving as a part-time officer with the Plains Police Department.
Those that knew him said that Smith was excited to join the campus police force since it gave him an opportunity to pursue a college degree while working in law enforcement.
He was a 2009 graduate of Americus-Sumter County High School and he graduated from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Tifton, Ga. in 2012.
Smith's death comes just a day after his childhood friend, a fellow officer, Nick Smarr died as a result of the same shooting.
The suspect in both officers' deaths has also died. Officials confirmed Thursday that Minquell Kennedy Lembrick died of what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head as SWAT teams attempted to make contact with and apprehend him at a home in Sumter County.
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