Henry County GA. police officer dies weeks after shooting
HENRY COUNTY, Ga. December 28 2018 – A seven-year veteran of the Henry County police force has died Friday weeks after a shooting at a dental office.
Henry County Officer Michael Smith died at 4:30 a.m. at Piedmont Hospital due to complications from the injuries he sustained from a gunshot wound in the line of duty, according to the Henry County Police Department.
Authorities said 53-year-old Dimaggio McNelly shot Smith with the officer’s own gun. McNelly also died in the shooting.
The incident happened shortly after 8 a.m. on Dec. 6 inside the lobby area of the Smile Creators dental office located on Jonesboro Road in McDonough, Georgia.
Police said they were called out to the dentist’s office for a disruption call after McNelly came in acting erratically.
“Something was unusual about this gentleman that frightened them enough that they called police,” Capt. Joey Smith, with the Henry County Police Department, told Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach.
The officer arrived, and the two got into a fight, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The officer tried to shock the suspect with a Taser more than once before one shot was fired, hitting both Officer Smith and McNelly.
“There was some type of struggle that involved the officer’s weapon,” Joey Smith said.
The suspect was killed and the officer was shot in the face area. GBI officials said Officer Smith was somehow struck with the same bullet that killed McNelly.
