Two deputies were killed in an ambush while attempting to serve a warrant at a home in a suburb near Atlanta, a sheriff said Friday.
The suspects then barricaded themselves inside a residential home, leading to mass law enforcement presence in the neighborhood, WSB-TV reported.
The identities of the deputies and suspects have yet to be released, the outlet noted in an article. The deputies were both with the department for over five years.
The sheriff’s office in Cobb County tweeted initially that two deputies had “died in the line of duty” and that a SWAT team and other law enforcement officers remained at the scene where a suspect was barricaded in Marietta. The suspects were later taken into custody, according to reports.
Two @CobbSheriff deputies died tonight in the line of duty while serving a warrant. SWAT and FAST teams are at the scene. The suspect is barricaded.
We will release additional information, including the names of the fallen deputies, as it becomes available.
— Cobb County Sheriff’s Office (@CobbSheriff) September 9, 2022
Sheriff Craig D. Owens later said the deputies had gotten out of their cars and were talking to the suspects when shots rang out, WSB-TV reported. The two suspected perpetrators were being held at the Cobb County Police Department for questioning, Owens said.
Owens said he wanted to make sure family notifications were finished before releasing the deputies’ names.
The warrants were served for failure to appear by theft or deception. The deputies were targeted after they got out of their vehicle to talk to one of the suspects, according to WSB-TV. One of the suspects allegedly opened fire on the deputies from their car, while the other opened fire from a home, according to the outlet.
One officer was struck in the head, while the other, who died en route to the hospital, was hit in the pelvic area.
RIGHT NOW: Law enforcement from across the region huddled around the ER at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.
A show of support as the bodies of 2 deputies will be escorted from here to the Medical Examiner’s office.
Those 2 deputies killed while serving a warrant. @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/3D18FVpSMw
— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) September 9, 2022
More details of this heartbreaking incident that took the lives of two deputies from Daily Wire:
After the two deputies were killed, a standoff between authorities and the suspects took place, with both SWAT and FAST teams responding to the scene.
The suspects were eventually apprehended early Friday morning, at around 12:15 a.m.
At a press conference, Owens said that the officers had served with “dignity and honor.”
“It is a night of heartache for two families from the Cobb sheriff’s office, two wives who have lost their amazing husbands,” the sheriff said. “These two deputies served Cobb County with dignity and honor.”
He also asked for prayers for the families and the sheriff’s office, saying that “our hearts are broken here in Cobb County.”
Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) also offered his sympathies to the department and the families of the deputies.
“Marty, the girls, & I were deeply saddened to learn of the killing of these two deputies. Men & women like them bravely serve our communities every day, & we owe them a great debt of gratitude,” he said. “Please join us in praying for their families & fellow law enforcement officers.”
Watch the video report here: WSB-TV/Youtube
Grant unto them eternal rest O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them -Amen
My sincerest condolences to the Family, friends and coworkers of these two Deputies.