EAST POINT, Ga. — East Point police are searching for a man who got in a shootout with an off-duty police officer during an attempted robbery.
It happened around 3 a.m. Saturday at the Tavern at J.R. Crickets off Camp Creek Parkway in East Point. Police released surveillance video of the shootout in an effort to find the shooter.
The gunman entered the restaurant through the kitchen door as employees closed the business early Saturday morning. The restaurant’s manager told Channel 2’s Liz Artz he heard gunshots coming from the kitchen area, but at first thought something had fallen from a shelf.
Police said the man came in and demanded to see the manager and demanded money. They said the employees cooperated, but the man fired several shots from a revolver anyway. Several employees took cover, and one employee ran for help.
An off-duty East Point police officer was working security and pulled his weapon when the suspect came through the kitchen doors and shot several rounds at the officer.
That was when manager Zachery Nichols can be seen in surveillance ducking behind the bar. The officer fired back. Nichols told Artz his life was in danger and he was frightened.
In all, six rounds were fired. While no one was seriously injured, police consider him a danger and not someone who should be walking the streets.
Detectives say the off duty officer was wearing a bulletproof vest that was clearly marked “police." They say the gunman knew he was firing at a cop and shot several rounds with no regard for anyone’s safety.
The restaurant's owner told Artz that in six years of business they have never had such a crime. He said he has offered counseling to his employees, and immediately changed closing procedures. Detectives said evidence was left behind that has been sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.
They hope that and the surveillance video will be enough to put the gunman behind bars.
Police ask anyone who knows anything about the crime to call police immediately. You can call the tip line and remain anonymous at 404-761-2177.
WSBTV
