The ambush shooting occurred just hours after five police officers in Dallas were shot to death and six others wounded by a sniper during a march in downtown Dallas to protest police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Advertisement
Hancock fired back, seriously wounding Beck, who police said called 911 about a vehicle break-in from the parking lot at the Three Oaks Apartments complex where he lived.
Police said officer Hancock was wearing a bullet proof vest and a body camera at the time. Dutton said it’s early in the investigation, but there’s nothing to indicate that the shooting was related to the ambush of police officers in Dallas.
Police are still looking for Beck’s vehicle, a 2009 silver Nissan Sentra with a Georgia license plate PVW 814.
Hancock underwent surgery at a local hospital and was stable Friday as he rested with his family by his side, the chief said.
Friends and neighbors of Beck said they were stunned because he had turned his life around after checking into a live-in treatment center for substance abuse.
According to a report, Beck told police that his auto had been broken into and needed officers to respond.
When Beck arrived, Zambaras said, he was “an angry, insubordinate, very confused kid who wanted to leave every day”. ‘I am also equally relieved that the offender is going to make it’.
A 10-year veteran of the VPD, Hancock returned fire and shot Beck, according to reports. They said Beck’s condition had upgraded from serious to stable.
Tensions between law enforcement and the African-American community flared this week following two instances where white officers fatally shot black men.
VALDOSTA, GA (WTXL) – Officials have identified the Valdosta Police officer who was shot in an apartment complex Friday morning. The suspect also was wounded, but both men are expected to survive.
Georgia authorities say a 22-year-old recovering drug addict told investigators he wanted police to kill him when he called 911 to lure an officer to his south Georgia apartment complex and then opened fire.
‘You start to wonder, ‘ the police chief said.
No charges have been filed, but a charge of aggravated assault on a police officer is expected, the GBI report stated. The agency said he immediately screamed into his police radio for assistance.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said Friday at a news conference that Antonio Taylor has been charged with the three felonies in the incident, which happened during a traffic stop.
Turner said the department’s strategy during demonstrations may change in small ways but commented that police won’t wear heavy tactical gear.
Advertisement
The motive for the shooting is still not known. He is reportedly in stable condition and being held in intensive care. Childress and Dutton described Beck as an Asian male.
