A South Fulton Police lieutenant is in critical condition after being shot while assisting a Fulton County Police officer during a traffic stop earlier today. South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows provided an update this afternoon, detailing the incident that occurred around 11:40 AM in unincorporated Fulton County.
According to Chief Meadows, Lieutenant Charles Cook was passing through the area when he observed a Fulton County Police officer conducting a traffic stop near the 4120 block of Fulton Industrial Boulevard. Lieutenant Cook stopped to offer assistance and was immediately met with gunfire upon exiting his patrol vehicle. Chief Meadows stated that Lieutenant Cook was struck at least three times.
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“Right now, he’s in critical condition,” Chief Meadows said. “Uh, we asked for your thoughts and prayers for his full recovery.”
The incident began when the South Fulton County officer initiated a stop for a pedestrian who was reportedly jaywalking. Shortly after the initial stop, Lieutenant Cook arrived on the scene, and the situation escalated rapidly.
Chief Meadows confirmed that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been called in to investigate the shooting. “We’ve asked the Georgia, uh, Bureau of Investigation to come in and investigate the shooting itself,” he explained, adding that his department is fully cooperating with the GBI’s investigation.
At this early stage, it remains unclear whether the police officer or another law enforcement personnel on the scene discharged the weapon that resulted in the death of the suspect.
“It’s unknown right now if the law enforcement Personnel on scene is the one that shot and killed the individual. However, that is currently under an investigation, and we’re still in the preliminary stages with regards to this investigation,” Chief Meadows stated.
When questioned about whether Lieutenant Cook had a chance to exit his vehicle before shots were fired, Chief Meadows clarified, “He was able to get out of the vehicle, and that’s when he actually Drew fire.”
The shooting comes during a difficult time for the South Fulton Police Department, which recently mourned the loss of Lieutenant Garcia earlier this week.
Chief Meadows acknowledged the strain on the department, stating, “It’s been a rough week… the outpouring of support that we’ve received from many of the agencies in the region has been outstanding.”
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He mentioned that the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with 9-1-1 operations while a significant portion of the South Fulton Police Department is at Grady Hospital supporting Lieutenant Cook and his family.
Lieutenant Cook has been with the South Fulton Police Department since its inception, having previously served with the Fulton County Police Department. Chief Meadows highlighted his significant contribution to building the organization.
The GBI’s investigation into the officer-involved shooting is ongoing, and further updates are expected.
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