Update posted Feb. 9 at 7:30 a.m.:
The officer who was fatally shot has been identified as 24-year-old Jeremy Labonte.
A statement from the Roswell Police Department's Facebook page says that Labonte joined the Department in November of 2021 and "was universally beloved by all who were blessed to know him as a friend, a husband, a son and a public servant."
The public is invited to pay their respects and leave tributes in Officer Labonte’s honor at a memorial vehicle that is outside of the Roswell Police Department headquarters at 39 Hill St.
Update posted Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m.:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a Roswell Police officer responded at around 7:15 p.m. to a call of a suspicious person near Market Boulevard.
The officer came across Edward Espinoza, 23, in the parking lot near the ACE Pickleball Club.
According to the GBI, when the officer approached the suspect for questioning, Espinoza allegedly pulled a handgun and fired multiple shots at the officer.
A witness called 911 and the responding officers arrested Espinoza.
The officer was taken to a local hospital but died from their injuries. The officer's identity has not been released.
The GBI is continuing to investigate the incident. When it is complete, the case file will be given to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities.
Original story posted Feb. 8 at 8:31 a.m.:
A Roswell police officer was shot and killed at a shopping center in Atlanta Friday night. Reports indicate that the incident occurred after officers responded to a call about a suspicious person off Market Boulevard near Holcomb Bridge Road after 7:00 p.m.
Roswell Police officials said after the incident that an unidentified suspect shot the officer multiple times, leading to the officer's death at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital Friday. Police on scene chased the suspect and took him into custody a short time later.
Fox 5 Atlanta reports that the GBI is investigating the details behind the shooting, with further details forthcoming.
