Off-duty Georgia State University officer shot twice

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are searching for two people involved in the shooting of an off-duty Georgia State University police officer.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of Donnelly Avenue Southwest near the Kroger grocery store.

Atlanta police say the off-duty officer, identified as LaToya Denise Crook, and her friend, another woman, were walking along Donnelly Ave. when two men came up on them. One was on a bike, and one was walking.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Mother drives up on wreck that killed son
• Man attacked grandmother with 'Rambo-style knife', police say
• Passenger holding baby punched in face by airport worker

Police said they were trying to rob the two women.

“At some point, one of the males told them to give it up. A struggle ensued between one of the females and one of the males and the male on the bicycle produced a fire arm and fired at least one time at the female,” said Sgt. John Chafee.

Crook returned fire, but the men ran away.

Police said Crook was shot twice and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. She was listed as stable.

A bicycle left at the scene is a key piece evidence, but police haven't released a description of these suspects yet.

Georgia State University released a statement about the shooting:

Georgia State University police officer LaToya Denise Crook, 31, was approached last night in Atlanta at 1460 Donnelly Avenue SW by two males in an apparent armed robbery attempt. Officer Crook was off-duty, walking back to her home when shots were exchanged between the robbery suspect and Officer Crook. Officer Crook was hit twice. She was taken to Grady Hospital and admitted with non-life-threatening injuries. She is in good spirits and Georgia State police officers, friends and family remain by her side.

The Atlanta Police Department (APD) is investigating the attempted armed robbery under APD case number 172112180. Georgia State's police department is working with the APD as it tries to identify suspects in this case. We thank the APD, the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and Grady Hospital for their professional response to this incident. Because this is an Atlanta Police response and investigation, questions about the incident details, suspects or criminal investigation should be referred to the APD's Public Affairs Office. 

Officer Crook has been employed by the Georgia State Police Department since January 2017. She came to the department from the Georgia World Congress Center Police Department where she served from November 2013 until joining Georgia State. She is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We continue to pray for a speedy recovery.

Cox Media Group