(DeKalb County Police Department, GA)
On December 12, 2014, the DeKalb County Police Department received a report of a home invasion armed robbery in progress. The two suspects were reported to be armed with a combination of handguns and an assault rifle. Officers Jonathan Lewis and Eduardo Espinoza were the first to arrive on the scene, and were followed shortly thereafter by Officers Devon Perry, Noel Collver, and Tony Luong. The dispatcher updated the officers, advising them that the suspects had made entry into the apartment and that witnesses could hear the residents being physically assaulted. The officers attempted to make entry into the apartment building, but while trying to gain access to the interior of the building, Officer Lewis observed a suspect exiting the upstairs apartment with an assault rifle. Officer Lewis alerted the other officers and gave commands for both suspects who were now in view to drop their weapons.
The suspects were fully aware of the officers’ presence and ignored their orders. Officer Lewis saw the first suspects advancing on their position and advised the other officers on the scene to take cover. The suspects exited the breezeway door and began immediately firing at all the officers. Officer Perry was struck in the right calf by one of the suspect’s rounds. Officers Perry, Collver, Luong, Espinoza and Lewis all returned fire, striking the suspect but not stopping him.
While engaging the first suspect, the second suspect also exited the breezeway firing a barrage of bullets at the officers. As this second suspect approached Officers Espinoza and Luong’s position, they knew a violent close encounter was imminent. The second suspect fired at both Officers Luong and Espinoza, striking Officer Luong in the right thigh. Both officers returned fire, wounding and incapacitating this second suspect. Officer Luong then covered the suspect while Officer Espinoza secured him in handcuffs and took him into custody.
During the encounter with the second suspect, the initial suspect was able to flee into a heavily wooded area. The officers immediately focused on providing medical attention to Officers Luong and Perry, and on establishing a perimeter for the initial suspect. After a 4-hour manhunt, and with the assistance of many surrounding jurisdictions, the officers took the outstanding suspect into custody without further incident.
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