A man being questioned by police officers at a hotel in suburban Atlanta invited them to his room and opened fire in an "unprovoked attack," killing one officer and injuring the other, Georgia authorities said.
During anews conference,Gwinnett County PoliceChief James D. McClure said two officers responded to a fraud-related call at 7:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 1, at a hotel in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Stone Mountain is located about 25 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.
When the officers arrived, McClure said they went to the room of a person who was believed to have fraudulently used a credit card. The officers made contact with the suspect, who invited them inside the room, McClure added.
"They began discussing the scenario or the incident with him," the police chief said. "And at some point the suspect produced a handgun and, in an unprovoked attack, fired at our Gwinnett County police officers."
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Both officers were stuck, and one returned fire, injuring the suspect, according to McClure. The two officers and the suspect were transported to a local hospital after the shooting.
One of the officers, Pradeep Tamang, 25, was later pronounced dead, McClure said. The second officer, Master Police Officer David M. Reed, remains in critical but stable condition.
The police chief said the suspect, later identified as Kevin Andrews, 35, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Andrews will be transported to jail once released from the hospital. No additional injuries were reported.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation assumed control of the shooting investigation, authorities said.
Police officers identified
In a statement to USA TODAY, the Gwinnett County Police Department said Tamang joined the department in July 2024 and graduated from the police academy in May 2025. During the news conference, McClure said Tamang was from Nepal and moved to the United States about 10 years ago.
Reed, according to the statement, joined the Gwinnett County Police Department in September 2015.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemptook to social mediaand mourned the dead officer and prayed for the second officer's recovery.
"This is the latest reminder of the dangers law enforcement face on a daily basis," Kemp said. "We are grateful for every one that puts themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow Georgians."
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Preliminary probe: Person reported credit card fraud
In anews release, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said it was investigating the shooting at the request of the Gwinnett County Police Department. The agency noted that once the investigation is complete, the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office will review the case.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Gwinnett County police responded to the Holiday Inn Express after receiving a call alleging credit card theft, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Earlier in the day, a person from South Carolina had reported that their credit card was fraudulently used at the Holiday Inn Express.
After the two officers arrived at the hotel, the agency said a front desk manager told them the room was being rented to Andrews. Officers spoke to Andrews in his room about the fraudulent use of the credit card and learned that he had an active warrant for failure to appear in DeKalb County, which is also located in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
At the news conference, McClure said Andrews had a "lengthy criminal history," including multiple felony convictions for violent crimes, gun crimes, and narcotics.
When officers attempted to arrest Andrews, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Andrews pulled out a handgun and fired at the officers. Additional officers later responded to the scene and the officers, along with the suspect, were taken to the hospital.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Georgia hotel shooting leaves officer dead and another injured
