DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Two DeKalb County Police Department officers were shot in DeKalb County on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident unfolded at a residence on Waldrop Cove. In a news conference before 2 p.m., DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond and DeKalb Police Chief Mirtha Ramos offered an outline of what happened. Chief Ramos identified the two officers injured as Sgt. Matthews, who was shot in the leg or perhaps upper hip, and Ofc. Howell, who was shot in the foot.
Police later identified the suspect as 20-year-old Demetrius Sutherland. He was taken to the DeKalb County Jail.
The chief said Sgt. Matthews, even after being shot in the leg, gave pursuit of the suspect and helped take him into custody after he jumped out of a window.
Chief Ramos said officers responded a little after 11 a.m. after they received an "open line" 911 call, where, as the chief explained, a call comes in with no one on the other end, but they could hear arguing in the background.
Officers were then dispatched to the location, where they encountered a mom who said her son was behaving aggressively and "causing a dispute" with her and another person there. The officers went into the apartment and approached a bedroom door when the man fired shots, and both officers were struck, according to police.
In an afternoon update, DeKalb Police said it appears only two shots were fired. Sutherland is being charged with one count of family violence battery and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer.
The police chief said both officers were taken to Grady Hospital. Since then, Ofc. Howell has been released and is recovering at home. On Thursday, DeKalb Police announced that Lt. Shane Smith has also been discharged and is recovering at home.
Ramos said Sgt. Matthews' pursuit of the suspect, despite being shot in the leg, "demonstrates the bravery that our officers need to display every day."
Matthews, 34, has been with DeKalb Police for 11 years, while 35-year-old Howell has worked for the department for four years.
Thurmond, the county CEO, said early indications were that the officers would make a full recovery, and Chief Ramos said they were "grateful and blessed our officers will be able to spend Thanksgiving with their families."
Sgt. Matthews is expected to be released on Thanksgiving Day.
Chief Ramos said she had received many calls of support on behalf of the officers, including from Gov. Brian Kemp.
