Officer shoots at suspected car thief; 6 detained

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — An officer dodged being hit by an SUV and then fired at the vehicle that was packed full of suspects, according to witnesses and investigators.

The officer was responding to a report of a stolen vehicle at the Creekside Vista Apartments on Lumby Drive.

Witnesses say when the officer approached the vehicle the driver tried to run him over.

"Actually twice," said Chief Cedric Alexander. "The officer was able to get off one round. He fired a shot."

April Moore is one of several residents who saw the confrontation.

"In the broad daylight at four o'clock in the afternoon," she said. "It's crazy dangerous."

"I thought (the officer) was going to kill them because they were trying to run over the cop," she said.

Alexander says some or all of the six people detained may be linked to other crimes.

"What seems more troubling about this case is that the vehicle that was stolen yesterday was also used in a carjacking," he said.

Alexander says the officer feared for his life and it's fortunate that no one was hurt or killed. Police detained six people, but say they are looking for two others.

WSBTV