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The Latest: Suspect dies, 2 officers wounded in shooting

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Latest on two police officers shot in Georgia (all times local):

1:40 p.m.

Authorities have identified the man who they say shot two Georgia police officers before he was killed by officers returning fire.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent J.T. Ricketson says 31-year-old Rainer Tyler Smith died in the exchange of gunfire early Monday.

Ricketson says Smith fired on Byron police officers James Wynn and William Patterson as they entered his house through the back door about 2:30 a.m.

Ricketson says officers returned fire, striking and killing Smith. He says Wynn and Patterson had first knocked on the front door and announced themselves, then went to the back when no one answered.

Ricketson says Smith lived at the home in the central city of Fort Valley with his 33-year-old girlfriend and their 1-month-old infant.

Byron police Lt. Bryan Hunter said Officer James Wynn underwent surgery for a gunshot to his left arm but is expected to recover fully. Byron police Officer William Patterson was also injured in the left arm and was treated at a hospital and released.

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12:45 p.m.

Police have released the identities of two Georgia officers who were shot and injured while serving a warrant.

Byron police Lt. Bryan Hunter says 27-year-old Officer James Wynn was shot once in his vest and in his left arm. He underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Hunter says 26-year-old Officer William Patterson was also wounded in the left arm. He was treated at a hospital and released.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent J.T. Ricketson says a multi-jurisdiction drug task force went at 2:30 a.m. Monday to a home on state Highway 42. Byron officers knocked on the door three times and announced themselves, but no one answered.

Ricketson says the officers went inside the house and an occupant started shooting at them. The officers returned fire and the suspect was killed.

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7:50 a.m.

Authorities say the suspect in a shooting in which two Georgia officers were shot while serving a warrant at a home has died.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent J.T. Ricketson told The Telegraph of Macon that the suspect, a man, was shot multiple times and died in the home Monday morning.

Ricketson also said one of the Byron officers who was shot was treated and released at a hospital. He says the other officer was more seriously wounded and had to undergo surgery.

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6:45 a.m.

Two central Georgia police officers have been shot while serving a search warrant in Crawford County.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent J.T. Ricketson tells local new outlets that a multi-jurisdiction drug task force went at 2:30 a.m. Monday to a home on state Highway 42. Byron officers knocked on the door three times and announced themselves, but no one answered.

Ricketson says the officers went inside the house and an occupant started shooting at them. The officers returned fire. The condition of the suspect hasn’t been released.

Two officers were taken to Medical Center, Navicent health in Macon. Their conditions weren’t immediately known.

GBI agents have locked down the scene and are securing search warrants for the property.

Further information hasn’t been released.

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