Gainesville police officers hospitalized, suspect critically injured after shootout, department says

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous reporting.

The Details

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Two police officers were sent to the hospital and a suspect was critically injured after a shootout Thursday, according to the Gainesville Police Department.

Gainesville police officers responded to a domestic disturbance involving a man and woman in the back of the New Holland Market shopping center, the department said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.

Upon arrival, the man fired at the officers, police said. At least one officer returned fire, hitting the suspect, according to Capt. Kevin Holbrook with Gainesville police, who briefed reporters Thursday night.

On Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) identified the suspect as Alan Degraffinried, age 45, of Dacula.

Gainesville police said they have asked the GBI to investigate the incident, which is customary for shootings involving law enforcement.

Holbrook said officers heard gunfire as they arrived. The suspect is also believed to have fired shots before the officers arrived, Holbrook said Thursday night.

Degraffinried was taken to an area hospital, where he remains in critical condition, the GBI said Friday.

The officers were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and observation, Holbrook said.

In an earlier statement Thursday, the department said one officer was sent to the hospital.

Holbrook said that both officers “are doing well physically,” but “unfortunately, I can’t say they’re doing the same mentally.”

On Friday afternoon, the GBI said medical staff evaluated the officers at the hospital as a precaution, and that neither officer was injured.

The GBI said officers responded to the shopping center around 4 p.m. Thursday.

The agency said officers arrived and saw Degraffinried get out of his SUV and approach a woman while holding a gun.

According to the GBI, an officer ordered Degraffinried to drop his gun, but he instead kept walking toward the woman and fired the weapon. The officer then shot at Degraffinried, hitting him, the GBI said.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

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