Apartment Review for Gardenwood Apartments

Nearby schools locked down; commuters advised to avoid area

By MIKE MORRIS, TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/16/08

Two DeKalb County police officers were shot and killed at a Glenwood Road apartment complex early Wednesday morning, DeKalb police said.

DeKalb police Chief Terrell Bolton said at an early morning news conference that the two officers were killed at about 12:30 a.m. while responding to a suspicious person report at the Glenwood Gardens apartments at 4371 Glenwood Road in south DeKalb.

Identities of the two officers were not released. One of the officers died at the scene and the other died en route to a hospital.

The officers were off duty at the time of the shootings and working security detail at the apartment complex, Bolton said. They were in uniform at the time but driving personal vehicles, according to the chief.

Teofil Taut, who owns the complex, said he hired the officers about two months ago after encountering problems with homeless people breaking into vacant units. About half of the 176 units are occupied, Taut said.

As close to 100 police officers and recruits searched the area for evidence Wednesday morning, six nearby schools were lockdown mode and motorists were advised to avoid the area:

• Several DeKalb County schools remained under lockdown Wednesday morning as the search continued. Snapfinger Elementary, Columbia High and Towers High all have had school police officers on campus since 5 a.m. Officials said classes are still being held but extra security personnel are monitoring all exterior doors.

Atherton and Glenhaven elementary schools are also being monitored, since they are the next closest schools to the incident. System officials said the lockdown will remain in effect until county police officials give an all-clear.

• Police advised commuters to avoid the area as the search continues for the suspects. Several blocks of Glenwood just inside I-285 were shut down with dozens of police cars blocking access to Glenwood from side streets and parking lots. A police helicopter circled overhead throughout the morning.