Police: Man fires shots at DeKalb County police officer, flees scene

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A manhunt is underway in DeKalb County after a man suspected of stealing a vehicle opened fire on an officer.

The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Family Dollar store located near the intersection of Panola and Young roads near Redan just before 5 p.m. Friday. DeKalb County police said it started when a work truck was stolen nearby.

Police said the owner of the work truck used GPS to track the vehicle to the store and confronted the thief.

"The gentleman found the vehicle, confronted the other gentleman, and got into a scuffle," DeKalb County Police Major A. T. Mears said.

That scuffle escalated into gunfire. An officer in the area on an unrelated called heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene. Police said the thief fired shots at the officer, who then returned fire.

Officials say they don't believe that the suspect was hit in the gunfire. Police said he fled the scene, leaving the work truck in the parking lot.

Mears said he's grateful that no one was injured in the shooting. Now they're working to find the culprit.

Police have not yet released any information on the suspect.