MORROW, Ga. — An officer and a suspect are recovering Thursday after a shooting outside of a restaurant in Morrow on Wednesday night.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said it happened around 9:45 p.m. at Las Trojas Cantina Mexican Restaurant on Mount Zion Road in Clayton County.
The GBI said it started as an argument on the restaurant patio before police arrived.
Maj. Greg Tatroe, with the Morrow Police Department, said Officer Myron Bell arrived on the scene Wednesday night, saw the argument and grabbed his Taser.
"Somebody in the crowd yelled at the officer like, 'No officer, this guy's got a gun,'" Tatroe said. "Officer Bell was going to transition from his Taser to his weapon, at which time he was shot in the chest."
Tatroe said the suspect ran. The GBI said the suspect is 26-year-old Keon Christian from McDonough.
He then explained Bell radioed he'd been shot.
"But he had enough strength and courage, he followed—he chased the subject far enough to be able to direct oncoming units into the parking lot as to where the bad guy was running," the major said.
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The GBI reported a second officer caught up with Christian and shot him. It reported Christian and Bell were both hospitalized.
Morrow Police credits Ofc. Bell's vest with saving his life, saying he was shot with just inches to spare.
"Just about an inch or two above the bottom of the vest," Tatroe said. "But without the vest, I don’t know if he would be here today."
Morrow Police said Bell is new to the department -- coming from a sheriff's office in Arkansas. Tatroe said Bell's been with the department for about nine months.
“He’s a new officer to the family, and we’re glad that he’s still around," Tatroe said.
Tatroe said Bell is still in the hospital but is doing well. He added that Bell's family is with him, and he's expected to get released from the hospital Thursday night.
The suspect is hospitalized in stable condition, the GBI said.
