Investigators said Officer Brian McKenzie, a 5-year veteran, was on a routine patrol when a driver in a auto passing his marked cruiser opened fire.
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The investigation revealed there was only one suspect, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, which Roswell police say was stolen.
Neither the officer nor his patrol vehicle were hit.
The cop tried to stop the vehicle, but a short chase ensued and the suspect eventually crashed the Ford Explorer on Commerce Parkway. No injuries were incurred during the crash.
“Roswell police took an abundance of safety measures to make sure there wasn’t a second suspect involved”, he said. Police do not know of a possible motive, nor do they know whether the shooting was related to rising tensions amid recent police shootings of black men, Frommer said. When asked if they thought it has something to do with anti-police sentiments, Frommer said, “of course that’s the first thing popping into everyone’s minds right now but of course we can’t say for sure”. “I know detectives have been talking to him, but I don’t know how much he’s talking”. Majia Nunez’s race was not immediately clear.
Majia Nunez was transported to the Roswell Detention Center where he has been interviewed by detectives, “but his cooperation has been limited”, Frommer added.
Thursday evening, at least five police officers were killed and seven were injured after a protest in Dallas.
McKenzie is a member of the agency’s drunken-driving task force and was on routine patrol when he came under attack, police said. Frommer said he didn’t immediately know whether the shots were fireworks or gunshots but quickly realized that “gunshots were coming his way”. He was taken into custody after a brief police chase and will likely face charges including aggravated assault on a police officer.
McKenzie “jumped right into action and did a great job chasing this guy down and catching him”, Frommer said.
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Roswell, a city of about 90,000 people, is about 20 miles north of Atlanta.
