The Associated Press
Atlanta (AP) -- Atlanta police said Thursday they don’t know why one of their off-duty detectives killed himself Wednesday while Cobb County police were investigating an automobile collision in which he was involved.
“Anything we said would be pure speculation,” Atlanta police Sgt. John Quigley said Thursday. “There’s nothing we are aware of.”
Quigley identified the officer as Michael P. Sequerth, 30, a 10-year veteran of the Atlanta police force. Quigley said he was a detective in the Zone Six precinct in east Atlanta.
Cobb County police Cpl. Brody Staud said the officer and another man were involved in a minor collision while driving northbound on Interstate 75 near the Cumberland Boulevard exit. The collision occurred about 6:51 a.m.
“We were doing like we do on any accident, getting information from both the drivers,” Staud said. “While we were speaking to one of the gentlemen, the other driver shot himself.”
It is unclear who was at fault in the collision, but Staud said the officer’s car is the one that was struck.
Staud said he believes the officer was in his car when he shot himself. He did not know what sort of gun was used -- or if it was police issue -- but said the man died on the scene from one shot.