Police Officer Shot At Covington Walmart

COVINGTON, GA — A police officer was shot Monday, Sept. 3, at a Walmart in Covington, a town about 35 miles southeast of Atlanta. The shooting happened around 1 p.m. inside the Walmart store on Industrial Boulevard.

"We responded to a shoplifting at the Walmart and the officer began a foot chase with one of the suspects, " said Officer Justin Stott, a public information officer for the Covington police department. "He made contact with one of the suspects across the street from the store. There was an exchange of gunfire, and both the suspect and the officer were hit."

The officer, identified as 34-year-old Matt Cooper, a six year veteran of the force, has been airlifted to Atlanta Medical Center, he said.

WSB-TV Channel 2 is reporting that one of the suspects was killed in the exchange, but Stott said he could not confirm that.

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Photo credit: Renee Schiavone/Patch