Police are searching for two people after an off-duty Georgia State University police officer was shot Sunday night during an attempted armed robbery in southwest Atlanta.
Officer LaToya Denise Crook, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, was walking with her friend in the 1400 block of Donnelly Avenue when two men came up to them and tried to rob them about 9:30 p.m., authorities said.
At the time, one of the men was on a bike, and the other was walking in the 1400 block of Donnelly Avenue, Atlanta police Officer Donald Hannah said.
“At some point, one of the males told them to give it up,” Atlanta police Sgt. John Chafee told Channel 2 Action News. “A struggle ensued between one of the females and one of the males and the male on the bicycle produced a firearm and fired at least one time at the female.”
The off-duty officer returned fire, but the men ran away, Hannah said. It is unclear if they were hit.
The officer was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds to the hand and torso, but is expected to be OK.
“She is in good spirits and Georgia State police officers, friends and family remain by her side,” GSU police Chief Joseph Spillane said in a statement.
“We continue to pray for a speedy recovery.”
The woman with Crook was not injured, Hannah said.
Crook has been with the police department since January, according to the university. She came to GSU from the Georgia World Congress Center Police Department.
University police are working with Atlanta police to identify any suspects in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Atlanta police. Tipsters can also remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.
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