Man who shot Forest Park cops killed by officer’s bullet

Both police officers hospitalized; suspect had record

A police officer’s bullet caused the death of a man who shot two Forest Park officers, according to the GBI’s preliminary findings.

The agency, however, does not know whether the bullet that killed James Jacob Bailey came from the gun of Officer Tim Sterrett or the firearm of Officer Demarkus Hutcherson.

“Early indication is that during the exchange of gunfire, a bullet from one of the officers’ firearms struck Bailey, causing his death,” the GBI said in a tweet.

Sterrett and Hutcherson responded to the 4700 block of Mitchell Street about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday after learning Bailey was driving a motorcycle recklessly and not wearing a helmet, Forest Park police Maj. Chris Matson said.

Bailey, 30, ran as officers approached, police said.

The officers followed him behind a house on Mitchell Street and were shot after an exchange of gunfire, Matson said.

Authorities do not know how many shots were fired.

Responding officers got Sterrett and Hutcherson out of the way and set up a perimeter, and a nearby middle school was placed on lockdown. After a search, Bailey was found dead behind the house.

At the time Sterrett and Hutcherson encountered him, Bailey had an active warrant for a probation violation, a Department of Community Supervision officer said.

A 2010 document indicates a first-offender sentence for Bailey on charges involving methamphetamine, cruelty to children and family violence, Channel 2 Action News reported. A 2016 document indicates a theft by taking charge and a negotiated guilty plea sentence of seven years. Upon serving one year, the remaining six “may be served on probation,” officials wrote in the document.

Sterrett, who was shot in the neck area, had surgery Wednesday night at Grady Memorial Hospital, Matson said.

“He is showing signs of improvement ... and will remain in ICU for a while,” Matson said.

Hutcherson was hit in the leg and “is recovering well” at Well Star Atlanta Medical Center South, police said.

Both officers have been with the department for about two years, Matson said.

There have been 80 officer-involved shootings in Georgia this year, according to the GBI, which investigates use-of-force cases. In 2016, the GBI investigated 77 officer-involved shootings.