Authorities in Georgia say a 17-year-old kid was shot dead by police on Saturday after reportedly killing a police dog and pointing a gun at officers.
During a news conference on Saturday, Clayton County Police Department Assistant Chief Bruce Parks identified the youngster as Stephon Ford.
According to Parks, the incident occurred just before 2 a.m. in Jonesboro, Georgia, roughly 17 miles south of Atlanta.
According to officials, the Jonesboro Officials Department was reacting to suspicious activities involving three males at a hotel. When they were approached, all three bolted, and two were apprehended and put into custody, according to Parks.
Did you read this?
Jonesboro police then requested assistance from the Clayton County Police Department to search for the third suspect.
Clayton County police Capt. John Ivey said the man was found hiding in a nearby forested area after a police K-9 unit was sent. Ivey stated that verbal commands were made to the suspect to come out. The teen allegedly pulled out a weapon and started shooting, striking the police dog.
The authorities put a cordon around the suspect and took the dog to a nearby animal hospital, where it died from its injuries.
According to Clayton County police, officers discovered the subject again within the search perimeter and gave him numerous demands to drop his handgun.
The suspect is then said to have pointed his gun at officers. Officers opened fire on the man, fatally striking him. Neither officers nor citizens were hurt in this event.
The Georgia Bureau of Probe has taken up the probe.
Police identified the deceased canine as Waro in a Facebook post.
