Two police officers shot in Middle Georgia, suspect killed

Image 1 of 5

Two police officers were shot early Monday while serving a search warrant at a home in Crawford County, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The officers were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover, authorities said.

Investigators said Officer James Wynn and Officer William Patterson, from the Byron Police Department, were part of a multi-county drug task force. The task force was serving a warrant at a home along Georgia Highway 42 when the shooting happened at about 2:30 a.m. Monday. Authorities said officers knocked on the door of a home several times before going inside.

Once officers were inside, a suspect opened fire. Officers returned fire, and the suspect was also shot in the gun battle. The GBI said the suspect, Rainer Tyler Smith, was killed.

Smith's girlfriend and baby were also inside the home when the shooting happened. Neither of them were injured.

The injured officers were transported to  a hospital in Macon. Officer Wynn was treated and released. Officer Patterson underwent surgery for damage to his left arm.  Doctors are confident he will make a full recovery.

The GBI took control of the shooting scene and is handling the investigation.  A GBI spokesman said agents recovered drug parephenalia at the residence during an initial search of the residence.