Clayton County Police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Morrow.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts holds a press conference Nov. 21, 2022 near the scene of an officer-involved shooting. Eric Holmes, 19, of Stone Mountain was shot dead after fleeing from a CCPD officer investigating a stolen car from Rome, GA. (Photo: Robin Kemp/The Clayton Crescent)

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said an officer shot one male suspect, who the GBI has since identified the man as Eric Holmes, 19, of Stone Mountain. Roberts told reporters at the scene the car contained “multiple” firearms:

Roberts said police got a call about a car stolen from Rome. The car was parked at a business, IGM Surfaces, 1135 Commerce Road. When a uniformed CCPD officer stopped to investigate the car, Holmes approached the officer.

Then, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Nelly Miles, “Holmes engaged the officer in conversation but gave no indication of his connection to the stolen vehicle.  While speaking to the officer, Holmes abruptly walked away, entered the stolen vehicle, and started the engine.  The officer gave commands for Holmes to stop.  The officer fired several shots, and the man left the scene in the stolen vehicle.  The officer called for assistance and pursued Holmes in his marked patrol car.  Holmes drove up Commerce Drive and veered into a ditch, about a quarter mile from where the incident began. The officer pulled Holmes from the vehicle and placed him under arrest at this location. The officer provided initial medical care until emergency medical technicians arrived.  Holmes was taken to Southern Regional Hospital where he later died.”

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene unit arrives at Commerce Drive in Morrow. Trucks and cars trying to pick up and deliver at nearby businesses were turned away during the investigation. (Photo: Robin Kemp/The Clayton Crescent)

Investigators are gathered around a car that apparently ran off Commerce Road into some weeds alongside a food wholesaler. Restaurant owners and chefs say they are not able to get to their food for pickup and that no one is answering the phone.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts says the car in the center, just behind the tree in this photo, was the one reported stolen from Rome, GA. An officer investigating the car shot and killed Eric Holmes, 19, of Stone Mountain. Roberts said the car contained “multiple” firearms. The crime scene shut down business at Restaurant Depot, leaving many restaurants and chefs without their orders today. (Photo: Robin Kemp/The Clayton Crescent)

The call went out early this afternoon, about an hour after SWAT team members wrapped an all-night fugitive manhunt in Hampton and Lovejoy. That suspect was taken into custody.

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Robin Kemp is executive editor and CEO of The Clayton Crescent, which she founded in 2020. She has worked for Gambit, CNN, The Weather Channel, Clayton News, Henry Herald, and numerous freelance outlets....

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