Georgia officer asks for prayers for cousin shot in line of duty

An Athens-Clarke County police officer is asking for prayers for his cousin, who was shot in the line of duty Monday in Iowa.

Credit: Boston Globe

Credit: Boston Globe

An Athens-Clarke County police officer is asking for prayers for his cousin, who was shot in the line of duty Monday in Iowa.

A North Georgia police officer is praying for not only one of his brothers on the force, but also for a family member who was shot in the line of duty.

Athens-Clarke County police Officer Erik Ellison is the cousin of Davenport, Iowa, police Officer Justin King, who was shot Sunday by a burglary suspect, according to local media reports.

The entire Athens department is asking for thoughts and prayers for King and his family.

King, who has been with the Iowa department since 2012, was responding to a burglary in progress along with fellow Officer Brenda Waline, who has been with the department since December 1999.

King was struck in the head during an exchange of gunfire in an apartment, police said in a statement, and underwent emergency surgery at a local hospital. Waline also suffered injuries during the incident.

Both officers are expected to survive, according to reports.

The 26-year-old burglary suspect, Matthew Donald Tobin, was shot and died at the scene, police said.

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