Two DeKalb County police officers were injured in a shooting while responding to what was reported as a domestic incident in the 17000 block of Waldrop Cove. The event occurred the day before Thanksgiving, leaving the community shocked by the violent altercation that unfolded in an area described by residents as typically quiet and safe. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Sgt. Matthews, an 11-year veteran of the force, and Officer Howell, with 4 years under her belt, were the law enforcement personnel involved.
The DeKalb County Police Department received an open-line 911 call around 11:12 a.m., with dispatchers overhearing an argument in progress. Officers Matthews and Howell promptly were dispatched to the scene to investigate. Once there, they encountered a woman who reported her 20-year-old son to be acting aggressively. As they approached a bedroom where the suspect was located, the young man opened fire, striking Sgt. Matthews in the leg or hip and Officer Howell in the foot. The suspect, later identified as Demetrius Sutherland, attempted to flee but was apprehended thanks to the courage of Sgt. Matthews who, despite his injury, gave chase and managed to, with assistance from additional officers, take Sutherland into custody.
DeKalb Police Chief Mirtha Ramos conveyed a message of resilience and gratitude at a news conference outside Grady Memorial Hospital where the officers were treated. She stated, "Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful and blessed. So, we are grateful and blessed today our officers will be able to spend time with their families," a sentiment echoed by the community. Sgt. Matthews is expected to be released on Thanksgiving Day, while Officer Howell was later discharged on the day of the incident. Information regarding the suspect and the details of the altercation were reported by both FOX 5 Atlanta.
The events have stirred discussions among residents of the Waldrop Park condo complex and surrounding areas. In the wake of the shooting, neighbors expressed concern over the safety of their community and reflected on the frequency of violence. A neighbor named Cory Smith, in a statement obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, mentioned the rarity of such events in recent years, despite past occurrences of crime in the area. Meanwhile, Caroline Simmons, another local resident, highlighted the desensitization of community members to ongoing violence, stressing the need for their concerns to be taken seriously.
Sutherland faces charges of family violence battery and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. He is in DeKalb County Jail while the investigation continues, and the weapon used has not been recovered.
