A shooting inside a Henry County dentist’s office early Thursday left a police officer critically injured and the alleged gunman dead.
The officer was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, police spokesman Capt. Joey Smith told AJC.com. The officer, who was not identified, is a 10-year veteran on the force who works the day shift.
Some of the raw interview with Captain Joey Smith with Henry County police @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/5WZFOD6EGT
— Dave Huddleston (@DaveHWSB) December 6, 2018
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is on the scene of the shooting in the 300 block of Jonesboro Road. The alleged shooter entered Smile Creators dentistry just after 8 a.m. and caused some type of disruption, Smith said.
"I don’t know if it was work-related, I don’t know if he was a customer... something was unusual about this gentleman that scared them enough that they called police," he said.
Breaking: update from HCPD on scene: suspect killed was disruptive customer inside dentist office. Employees called police. Shots exchanged and officer shot and suspect killed pic.twitter.com/lWaagmSkIg
— Steve Gehlbach (@SteveGWSB) December 6, 2018
Henry County authorities are asking drivers to avoid the area of Jonesboro Road and Wesley Lakes Boulevard near McDonough.
"The scene has been secured," police said on Facebook. "There is no elevated risk to the public’s safety at this time.
Check back for updates to this developing story.