Police dies after gun battle in suburban Atlanta

Barney was shot and killed while serving a no-knock warrant at a home in Riverdale and a public safety consultant tells CBS46 that this situation emphasizes the importance of officers using bullet-proof vests.

The gunman took off for the back door when officers knocked at his Church St. apartment around 11:15 a.m., police said.

A suspect accused of gunning down a Georgia lawman has been charged with murder in the death of the 25-year police veteran.

Barney was transported to Southern Regional Medical Center in critical condition and underwent surgery. Reynolds said his family was still being notified of the shooting early Thursday afternoon. One of the residents we spoke with says she found that hard to believe since the people inside the apartment were running what seemed like a business.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is taking over the investigation. The condition of the suspect was not immediately clear.

Members of the Riverdale community stopped by the police department Thursday to pay their respects to Major Barney.

David Vazquez, battalion chief with Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services, said that Barney was unresponsive when first responders arrived on the scene.

Barney’s body is at GBI headquarters, where an autopsy will be performed Friday morning, agency spokesman Scott Dutton said. In images from WSB-TV, two candles glowed outside the police department’s entrance.

Martin, the former longtime Riverdale municipal judge, said his thoughts and prayers were with Barney’s family.

Barney was well-known in Riverdale, a city suburb just south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Residents say he left a strong impression on residents as an officer, a police department commander and as a school resource officer. “Anyone who ever lived or worked in the Riverdale knew him, and his name was synonymous with the city”.

The Riverdale officer was struck twice by gunfire, and the suspect was also hit, Reynolds said.

“He had a positive vibe”, Bivens said.

“He made me want to do right, he made me want to make my mom proud of me”, said Bivins. He served as interim chief for five months, the Atlanta newspaper reported.