July 2, 2021
ATLANTA, Georgia—Atlanta police officer Khoung Thai was shot in the face while exiting an elevator in a Midtown apartment building in an ambush on Wednesday, June 30.
Officer Thai was said to be in stable condition and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to ALIVE.
Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryan stated:
“It is only through their training and by the grace of God that these officers did not come upon a more tragic situation.”
The suspect who allegedly shot Thai was identified as 29-year-old Joseph Lee Humbles and he was killed during the incident.
The shooting happened shortly after 1 p.m. in the 700 block of Peachtree Street near the Solace on Peachtree Apartments in the heart of midtown, reports to ALIVE.
Officer Thai and his partner were responding to a “shots fired” call when they encountered Humbles.
“These officers were ambushed and even with one of the officers being struck, they quickly responded and the courage that was displayed, really I don’t have the words to describe,” stated Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Gunfire immediately erupted when the two officers exited the elevator on the 8th floor in Peachtree. Apparently, Humbles was involved in a gunfight with another individual. That man also sustained non-life-threatening injuries as well.
“Officers were able to return fire where we believe that one suspect was fatally struck. Officers then were taken downstairs and taken to Grady Hospital,” APD Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. explained.
A second officer was also injured in a traffic accident responding to the shooting as well.
According to reports, after being taken to the hospital, Thai reportedly gave a thumbs up to his comrades while being wheeled off to emergency surgery.
Feature Images via ALIVE