GBI investigating officer-involved shooting, woman found dead in garage

PORTERDALE, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in Newton County involving a police officer Tuesday morning. 

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Porterdale police got a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at a home on Magan Court. When they arrived at the home, responding officers found blood in the driveway. 

Deputies with the Newton County Sheriff's Office as well as the SWAT team also responded to the home. 

The first responders searched the home and when they got upstairs they found a man, identified as 56-year-old Daryl Johannesson, hiding in a closet.

At some point in the encounter, the GBI said a SWAT team member opened fire. As of Tuesday afternoon, the GBI could not say whether the officer killed the man or the man took his own life. A handgun was also recovered from the closet.

A woman, identified as 40-year-old Erin Rene Smith, was also found dead in the garage of the home. Investigators say she died of gunshot wounds.

Officials have not said what led up to the shooting. 

The couple's long-time friend Tom Singleton told FOX 5's Deidra Dukes they seemed happy. "No signs of trouble.  Both of them were easy going and peaceful."

Neighbor Tammy Watkins' prayers are with the couple's young son, who was away at camp when the​​​​​​ tragedy unfolded, and his late mother. "It hurts a lot I'd see her in the morning when I walked the dog.  I'd see her taking her son to school. It's so hard, just unreal."

The investigation is ongoing and autopsies will be performed at the GBI Crime Lab.