Holly MatkinLawrenceville, GA – Gwinnett County Department of Corrections (GCDOC) Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner was murdered on Tuesday morning while in the parking lot of the jail facility where he worked.
The incident occurred outside the Gwinnett County Comprehensive Corrections Complex on Hi Hope Road as Senior Correctional Officer Riner was heading in to work at approximately 6: 20 a.m. on Dec. 13, WAGA reported.
Investigators said the 59-year-old correctional officer was found shot to death out in the parking lot near his truck.
The motive for the deadly attack is unknown, and no suspects were immediately identified.
The Gwinnett County Police Department (GCPD) released a grainy surveillance photo of the suspected shooter later on Tuesday morning.
They said he fled the parking lot on foot, WAGA reported.
“Right now, this is a very active scene, a very active investigation,” GCPD Sergeant Jennifer Richter said during a press briefing. “Our detectives and officers are following up on leads.”
Correctional Officer Riner had worked at the jail facility for more than a decade, GCPD Spokesperson Hideshi Valle told NBC News.
“The Gwinnett Police department would like to extend condolences to his family, friends, and coworkers,” the GCPD said in a statement to NBC News. “No arrest has been made, this is an active investigation, and detectives are exploring all motives.”
Officials said Correctional Officer Riner was well-liked and respected by his fellow officers, as well as by the facility’s inmates, according to WAGA.
“Being in this negative environment sometimes, working here, it’s easy to come in and be negative and be unhappy, but that’s not who he was,” GCDOC Captain Audrey Henderson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Every day he did it on a daily basis. That’s a hard job to do.”
“My prayers go out to his family,” Captain Henderson said. “I want his family to know he was my family as well, and we’re going to get through this together.”
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) posted a photo of Senior Correctional Officer Riner on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon.
“The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office sends our sincerest condolences to Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner,” the sheriff’s office’s post read. “Please keep the family of Scott Riner and the Gwinnett County Department of Corrections in your prayers during this difficult time.”
The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office sends our sincerest condolences to Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner. Please keep the family of Scott Riner and the Gwinnett County Department of Corrections in your prayers during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/GGWcjfgE28
— Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office (@GwinnettSO) December 13, 2022
His name was Scott Riner, a Senior Corrections Officer for Gwinnett County Corrections. He was shot and killed during an attack on the Gwinnett County Correctional Complex. Police say they’ll pursue every lead to catch his killer. Rest Easy Brother. Prayers for his family. pic.twitter.com/EsZEDVWIg2
— L.E.T. Radio Show Podcast (@LETRadioShowPo1) December 13, 2022
The Gwinnett Police Homicide Unit is currently investigating the murder of Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner.
For more information click: https://t.co/brqKeHBjcs pic.twitter.com/4strkbuEZW
— Gwinnett County Police (@GwinnettPd) December 13, 2022
With heavy hearts, we extend our sincere condolences to the family of Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner & the entire Gwinnett County Department of Corrections.
Officer Riner was a dedicated member of Georgia’s law enforcement community, & this is an unimaginable loss. pic.twitter.com/6ZkLP399ZV— GA AG Chris Carr (@Georgia_AG) December 13, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Gwinnett County Department of Corrections Senior Correctional Officer Scott Riner, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
