Henry County

Community gathers to honor fallen Locust Grove officer

By Lauren Pozen, WSB-TV
By Lauren Pozen, WSB-TV

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Hundreds of people gathered Saturday evening to remember a police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Friday.

Locust Grove Police Officer Chase Maddox, 26, was killed when he responded for backup to two Henry County Sheriff's Office deputies who were serving a failure to appear warrant, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations said.

The suspect, identified by the GBI as Tierre Guthrie, 39, opened fire on the three men, injuring deputies Michael Corley and Ralph Sidwell "Sid" Callaway.

A vigil to honor Maddox was held at the Locust Grove police station. People came by to show their support, leaving flowers on Maddox's patrol car and buying decals,with the proceeds going towards his family.Maddox was a father whose second child is due any day now, friends said.

"He loved his job. He loved policing," childhood friend Seth Slonaker said."There's not anything you can say, tell a story, to sum up Chase. He's a one-of-a-kind personality."

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Slonaker said Maddox loved people and caring for others, which is what led him to become a police officer.

"He just decided, 'I want to go to the police academy,' and I was like, 'Really?' and he was like, 'Yeah man. That would be awesome. You get to help people,'" he said.

Those who came out to the vigil said Maddox was more than just an officer.

"He was a mentor. He was a guider. He was a lover of everything," Locust Grove resident Caroll Conway said.

Slonaker said Maddox died serving the community.

"He paid the ultimate price for his community, which all of us have to honor and respect that," he said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Maddox's family.

To purchase decals in honor of Chase Maddox, click here.

Cox Media Group

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