The GBI has been called to investigate a Monday morning shootout between police officers and alleged burglars at a gas station in Kennesaw.
Kennesaw officers on patrol stopped at the Texaco station on the corner of Moon Station and Jiles roads early Monday when they heard a burglary alarm sound, Channel 2 Action News reported. When they entered the gas station, they confronted four people inside.
“During that encounter, the suspects started shooting at the officers,” Kennesaw police spokesman Officer Scott Luther told the news station. “The officers did return fire, but the suspects were able to flee in a vehicle.”
None of the officers were injured.
A Kennesaw officer pursued the vehicle from the gas station and later lost sight of it, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said.
The vehicle was later recovered on the Kennesaw State University campus, but the search continues Monday morning for the alleged burglars.
“The subjects have not been located but are not believed to be in the KSU area,” Miles said.
A campuswide alert was issued at 5 a.m. for Kennesaw State University after the car was found.
“Four male suspects armed involved in incident off campus fled the scene and abandoned (a) vehicle on campus near East Parking Deck at Frey Road,” university officials said in the alert. “The direction of travel is unknown. Kennesaw State University police officers are searching Kennesaw campus and surrounding areas to ensure suspects aren't on campus.”
Normal operations resumed at 7 a.m., but Kennesaw State University police are continuing increased patrols, officials said.
The GBI was requested to investigate, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Officer-involved shootings in Georgia this year are on track to pass the 88 recorded in 2017, according to the GBI. The Cobb shooting is the 67th such investigation the agency has opened in 2018.
RELATED: Georgia on pace to double deadly officer-involved shootings in 2018
ALSO: Experts say weapons, changing attitudes lead to more officer shootings
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