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Suspect in police chase dies from injuries

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The man accused of attacking an Avondale Estates police officer has died.

Police are not releasing the suspect’s name, but Avondale Police Det. Tom Gillis says he has been in contact with the man’s family.

“As you can expect, any family is going to be sad," said Gillis.  "They’re going to be somewhat shocked. They’re trying to find answers why an individual would do something out of the norm.”

Police say the suspect stole a vehicle from a DeKalb County package store around 3 p.m. Friday.  A few hours later, police say the man sped through an intersection on Covington Highway and caught the attention of an Avondale Estates police officer.  The officer, according to police, eventually caught up with the car on Kensington Road, where the suspect had hit a utility pole and wrecked in front of a house.  Police say the man attacked the officer, who opened fire and hit the suspect once in the chest.  The man was taken to Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Detective Gillis told Channel 2’s Alina Machado he spoke with the officer Saturday.

“He’s as well as you can be. The gravity of the situation doesn’t escape you,” Gillis said.

The officer, a 10-year veteran with the department, has been placed on administrative leave, while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Avondale Estates police and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s office investigate.

“It takes time,” said Gillis. “It’ll all be put together.  It’ll be reviewed by the district attorney for a final determination.”

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