Officer’s funeral to be today

AMERICUS — Funeral services for one of two south Georgia police officers killed in the line of duty are planned for today.

Americus police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr, 25, was responding to a domestic dispute Wednesday when he and Georgia Southwestern State University campus policeman Jody Smith were fired on.

The Macon Telegraph reports Smarr’s funeral is planned for 2 p.m. today at the Georgia Southwestern State University Storm Dome. Pastor Ricky Smarr and Americus Police Chief Mark Scott are officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Services are pending for Smith, 26, who was to be married in May.

Minquell Lembrick, 32, the suspect in the shootings, was found dead Thursday from an apparent

Hundreds braved the cold to attend a vigil to show their support for the families of Americus police officer Nicholas Smarr and Georgia Southwestern campus police officer Jody Smith.

self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Friends and family gathered Friday at Georgia Southwestern to remember the officers, who had been friends since fourth grade and shared an apartment

in Sumter County.

“I have cried and cried and I know I’m going to cry and cry for a long time,” Sharron Johnson said to about 200 people who’d gathered for a candle-light vigil for her son, Beau Cabell / The Macon Telegraph via AP

Jody Smith, and Smarr. “But my baby, he’s in heaven. He’s whole and so is Nick. They were both super guys and they loved each other and they died together. They wouldn’t have it any other way.”