Police officer, suspect fatally shot in Georgia

HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Georgia police officer and a suspect were both fatally shot late Wednesday night in Holly Springs, according to authorities.

A traffic stop preceded the shooting in the small town, which is about an hour northwest of Atlanta. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed Thursday morning its role in the investigation of the fatal encounter, Fox News reported.

The incident started as a traffic stop. At this point, we are still working to gather details and will provide updates as we learn more. (2/2)

— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) June 17, 2021

Details remained confidential at the time of publication as law enforcement officials were still in the process of notifying the officer’s family and trying to positively identify the suspect.

April Van Alstine, spokeswoman for the Holly Springs Police Department, called it “a very active investigation.”

A local sheriff’s department expressed condolences for the police agency.

“Please keep the Holly Springs Police Department (Georgia) in your thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of one of their officers who was killed in the line of duty last night,” the nearby Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said on its social media accounts.

UPDATE: Channel 2 Action News has learned from a source with the GBI that the Holly Springs police officer who was killed in the line-of-duty was Joe Burson. According to the police department’s Facebook page, he was sworn in March 2020.

Officer Joe Burson (Holly Springs Police Department)