Georgia officer probably shot by fellow officer

WXIA-TV, Atlanta

Show Caption Hide Caption Ga. police officer shot while responding to burglary call A police officer was shot while responding to a burglary in progress call in Dekalb County, Georgia, according to authorities.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Investigators say the DeKalb County police officer who entered the wrong home for a burglary call was probably accidentally shot by another officer, not by the homeowner.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials said DeKalb County Police Department received a report of a suspicious person Monday night in a southeast Atlanta neighborhood where many of the single-story homes look similar.

Three officers arrived at the residence and attempted to contact any occupants in the home. When no contact was made, the officers went to the back of the home and gained entry to it through a screened porch. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said police went through a "reportedly unlocked door."

Upon entry, the officers encountered a dog. Two officers fired their weapons striking and killing the animal. A male in the home, later determined to be the homeowner, also was shot by the responding officers.

The officer was shot after entering the home. In a statement, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said, "Early investigation indicates that the injured officer was likely shot accidentally by one of the other officers on the scene."

The injured officer, who was taken to the hospital, is in "serious but stable condition," said Steven Fore, a DeKalb County Police spokesman. The officer "lost a lot of blood" Monday, said Cedric Alexander, DeKalb County's public safety director.

However, GBI spokesman Scott Dutton said it was too early in the investigation to determine exactly who fired the gunshots. Dutton said he did not know whether anyone in the home was armed beside the police officers. GBI officials said there is no evidence the residents had committed any crimes.

The homeowner, who was shot in his leg, was treated at a hospital and released. His name was not released and he declined to comment.

DeKalb County Police asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to take over the investigation into the incident. In a statement released Tuesday, the bureau said after the investigation is completed, "it will be turned over to the district attorney for any action the district attorney deems appropriate."

All three officers have been placed on administrative leave.

The shooting happened in a neighborhood about 5 miles from downtown Atlanta.

Contributing: The Associated Press.