Sandy MaloneAcworth, GA – A manhunt that began after a Cobb County police officer was shot at point-blank range on Sunday ended in a shootout with police a few hours later.
The initial incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on June 13 when a Cobb County officer responded to a domestic incident at a home on North Shores Road near Dallas-Acworth Highway, WXIA reported.
Cobb County Police Sergeant Wayne Delk said that when the officer arrived, a man in the home – later identified as 20-year-old Luis Rey Ruiz – pulled out a gun and started shooting, WSB reported.
Sgt. Delk said the officer was shot “point-blank” but was wearing a bullet-proof vest that saved his life, WXIA reported.
“Basically, the vest saved our officer’s life,” the sergeant said. “He was actually hit in the vest. He was transported to the hospital. Because of the vest it was non-life-threatening injuries but it would have been a lot worse had he not been wearing the vest.”
Sgt. Delk said the officer was shot multiple times and then the suspect fled the scene, WXIA reported.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Acworth police, Cobb County police, Marietta police, Kennesaw police, Paulding County police, and Georgia State Patrol responded to the scene to assist with the manhunt, WSB rpeorted.
Police are searching for a gunman right now in Cobb County near Cobb Parkway & Shores Drive after a police officer was shot. Officer is in the hospital and is expected to survive. @11Alive pic.twitter.com/Ng6qRwv3OG
— Chenue Her (@ChenueHer) June 13, 2021
There are dozens and dozens of armed law enforcement agents along Cobb Pkwy. This Cobb County police officer is directing traffic as manhunt continues https://t.co/GpvzK6aExw pic.twitter.com/m3y1I5P0pe
— Michael Seiden (@SeidenWSBTV) June 13, 2021
Officers set up a perimeter and called in SWAT to track down the gunman, WXIA reported.
Police said that when they located Ruiz at about 6:40 p.m., he opened fire on officers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said several SWAT officers returned fire and the suspect was fatally shot, WSB reported.
A gun was recovered next to Ruiz’s body.
Sgt. Delk said no law enforcement officers were injured in the second shooting that involved the SWAT team, WXIA reported.
Officials have not yet released the name of the officer who was shot.
*UPDATE*
The search for the suspect has ended. A second officer involved shooting resulting in the suspect being shot and killed. No officers were injured. @GBI_GA is on scene and has taken over investigation. @ajc @wsbtv @cbs46 @FOX5Atlanta @11AliveNews https://t.co/ZV2UpgXYe5— Cobb County Police (@cobbpolice1) June 13, 2021
GBI has taken the lead on both officer-involved shootings, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Holly Matkin
