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Body cam video released in deadly Americus police shooting

AMERICUS, Ga. — Newly-released body camera video is giving more insight into the deadly shooting of two police officers in Americus.

Investigators say Minquell Lembrick shot officers Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith as they responded to a domestic call earlier this month.

The video was edited to prevent further trauma to the officers' families. It shows only the moments leading up to the deadly shooting, not the shooting itself.

The video is from Smarr responding to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex. His best friend, Smith, heard the call too and was already on the scene.

Smarr can be seen walking up to the apartment door, knocking and entering.

"Come here,” he tells Lembrick on the video.

Instead, Lembrick takes off and Smarr runs after him through the back door. The video cuts off just before the shooting.

Smarr died at the scene.

Hundreds lined the streets as a horse-drawn carriage carried his body to his final resting place last week.

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The 25-year-old Americus native graduated from the police academy in Forsyth. Previously he served as a police officer in Vienna and McRae.

His best friend, officer Smith, died a day later in a local hospital.

An honor guard escorted his body into Georgia Southwestern University's Storm Dome on Dec. 14.

Smith patrolled the school's campus, where he once attended classes. He grew up in Americus and was engaged to be married next May.