Regular Updates: Murdered Policeman, Suspect at Large

Athens-Clarke County Policeman Buddy Christian was killed Tuesday, and the suspect, Jamie Hood, 33, remains at large.

We are following the story today and giving you information as it comes into Patch, about the police search and about Officer Christian.

10:30: On his Facebook page, Hood's favorite quote is: "Everything that shine ain't a diamond. But damn I'm close." He has 498 Facebook "friends." 

6:04: The Richmond County Police were expected to come work the case and to relieve some of the ACC Police as they continue the search.

5:25: ACC Police Chief Jack Lumpkin said today that Officer Tony Howard, shot in yesterday's investigation of a car-jacking, woke up from surgery "policing," wanting to know if the shooter had been caught yet.

4:35: Jamie Hood's family members make a televised appeal, asking their son to turn himself in.

4:07: UGA officials confirm that Buddy Christian attended the university for one semester in the fall of 1999.

4 p.m.: So many agencies are helping in the investigation, says Shockley, including the GBI, FBI, Georgia State Patrol, UGA Police, that there isn't a room in headquarters large enough to accommodate everyone, so they met in a hallway.

3 p.m.: More details from Tuesday shooting: According to ACC Police spokesman Mike Shockley, a man who was apparently car-jacked called police from somewhere near Lexington and Winterville roads. He named Jamie Hood as the perpetrator. Police went to the Cascade on the River apartments, looking for Jamie Hood, who was said to be living there. Officers saw a Chevy Suburban, driven by Matthew Hood, Jamie's brother, whom they recognized. An officer went to arrest Matthew Hood, not realizing that Jamie Hood was a passenger in the vehicle. Hood emerged and shot the officer, then took off running. Christian probably heard chatter on the scanner and drove to the area to help. As Hood passed Christian's police car, he shot into the driver's side window, hitting Christian, then kept running.

2 p.m.: A media release from ACC Police says slain officer Buddy Christian joined the ACC Police in December 2002. His surviving children are Callie, 5, and Wyatt Lane, 2.  Wounded officer Tony Howard, 43, joined the force in June 2003. He has four boys, ranging in age from 11 to 20. 

1 p.m.: The flags are at half-mast at on Lexington Road.

11:46 a.m.: Scanner traffic says police have headed to Murrell Road, off Spring Valley Road, after a letter carrier who knows Jamie Hood spotted someone there who looks like Hood, wearing black clothes and white sneakers. The carrier said Hood was with two other black men.

11:43 a.m.: A fund has been established at Athens First Bank & Trust to honor the memory of murdered Athens-Clarke County Senior Police Officer Elmer “Buddy” Christian. The money will be given to his wife Melissa and their children Callie and Wyatt Lane. 

11:36 a.m.: The reward fund has jumped to $50,000 for information leading to Hood's arrest.

10:30 a.m.: Buddy Christian, 34, was a deacon in and a graduate of Madison County High School. His wife Melissa gave birth to their nine-pound son, Wyatt Lane, in 2008. Sister Callie was waiting at home.

8:30 a.m.: ACC Police report that Crime Stoppers has added $5,000 to the reward fund for information leading to the arrest of Jamie Hood. Hood's full name is Jamie Donnell Hood, and he's 5-8 and 175 pounds. The reward is now at $10,000.