By Mike Morris and Ty Tagami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Searching for a man accused of killing one law enforcement officer and shooting a second, police in Athens surrounded a house Thursday morning. The suspect, Jamie Hood, 33, was not found at the home at Spring Valley and Murrell roads. But GBI Director Vernon Keenan told Channel 2 Action News that police still think Hood is in Athens.
“We believe we’re on the right track,” Keenan said.
Hood is wanted in Tuesday’s killing of Elmer “Buddy” Christian, 34, an officer with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Hood also is accused of shooting Officer Tony Howard, 43, who is recovering from his wounds.
The search at the house came after a “credible” tipster reported seeing Hood at an Athens apartment complex Wednesday, Keenan said.
A police incident report obtained Thursday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said that each officer was shot twice. Howard was shot in the face and upper body.
Authorities originally were looking for Hood in connection with a kidnapping and carjacking, Athens-Clarke County police Chief Joseph H. Lumpkin Sr. said.
Police say the shootings began after Howard stopped a red Chevrolet Suburban driven by Hood’s brother, Matthew. They say Jamie Hood stepped out of the vehicle and shot at Howard before running.
As he ran, authorities say, Hood fired into Christian’s police cruiser, killing the officer.
Hood is described as a 5-foot-8, 175-pound black man.
A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Hood’s arrest. High-tech video billboards, some along metro Atlanta interstates, displayed information about the reward and Hood’s mug shot Thursday.
Copyright 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution