Who Is Minguell Kennedy Lembrick, Americus, Georgia Police Shooting Suspect? Facebook Account Posts Goodbye After Officer Killed

UPDATED: 9:33 p.m. EST — The second police officer who was shot by a murder suspect in rural Georgia has died from his gunshot wounds. Officer Jody Smith was pronounced dead Thursday evening after being in critical condition from the shooting Wednesday morning in the town of Americus.

Smith, a 26-year-old member of the Georgia Southwestern State University Police Department, was shot along with fellow officer Nicholas Smarr. Smarr, 25, was killed at the scene. The two were reportedly best friends.

The university's interim president confirmed Smith's death, CBS News reported.

"We have just received word that GSW Public Safety Officer Jody Smith has succumbed to his injuries and has passed away," Charles Patterson said in part.

Minguell Kennedy Lembrick was accused of shooting the two officers after a chance encounter at an apartment complex. The officers were responding to a domestic violence report involving Lembrick, who had an outstanding arrest warrant. Lembrick, 32, thought they were there to arrest him for the warrant, which the officers were unaware of, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Lembrick fled before both sides exchanged gunfire. Both officers were hit, Smarr fatally on site.

Authorities ultimately tracked Lembrick to a nearby home, where, after a standoff, he shot himself. He was later pronounced dead.

A Facebook account for “Minguell GStreet Lembrick” posted an update that was later deleted after the shooting Wednesday, local news outlet The Telegraph reported. "I’m gonna miss y’all folks, man," the message read. "Love ya, Nikki brown. I tried to stay out to get ya (expletive) happen…other life gone not going to jail." Lembrick also went by the name Minquell Kenney Lembrick, according to the Telegraph.

UPDATED: 12:22 p.m. EST — Minguell Kennedy Lembrick, the suspect in Wednesday's fatal police shooting in Georgia, has died after shooting himself in the head, according to the Associated Press. A statewide manhunt was launched after Lembrick allegedly shot and killed a police officer Wednesday morning near Georgia Southwestern State University in the town of Americus.

UPDATED: 11:52 a.m. EST — The suspect in Wednesday's fatal police shooting has shot himself in the head, according to the Macon Telegraph. His condition was not immediately known. Police had been searching for Minguell Kennedy Lembrick since Wednesday morning after he allegedly shot and killed a Georgia police officer and critically injured a Georgia Southwestern State University police officer.

The reported self-inflicted wound happened as law enforcement moved in on a house Lembrick was suspected of hiding in.

Original story:

A manhunt was underway for a man who authorities say shot and killed one police officer and left another critically injured in southwest Georgia Wednesday morning. Authorities set a reward of $30,000 as a search was organized to find Minguell Kennedy Lembrick.

Shortly after the shooting, a Facebook account for man named “Minguell GStreet Lembrick” went live for four seconds, according to Georgia’s the Telegraph. “I’m gonna miss y’all folks, man,” the video, which has since been deleted, said. A post saying “Love ya, Nikki brown. I tried to stay out to get ya (expletive) happen…other life gone not going to jail,” was written as well. Lembrick, 32, also goes by the name Minquell Kenney Lembrick, according to the Telegraph.

Police in Americus, Georgia, said Officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr responded to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex near Georgia Southwestern State University at around 9:40 a.m. when he was shot and killed. University police Officer Jodi Smith arrived shortly after to provide backup and was critically injured. Smith remained in critical condition Thursday morning.

Lembrick had a previous warrant for kidnapping and a domestic dispute and police said he should be considered armed and dangerous. It was not immediately clear if he was wounded during the incident.

Nearby Georgia Southwestern State University said on its website that there would be no classes Thursday because fall semester had already ended.

“The suspect in the Americus shooting is still at large; however, Georgia Southwestern academic and administrative buildings have been released. Students in residence halls are being asked to stay in their building and not wander around campus,” the alert read. “GSW Public Safety remains on patrol in and around buildings with students, faculty and staff.”

The two police officers involved in the shooting had graduated from Americus-Sumter High School together in 2009 before becoming officers and were best friends, according to Atlanta’s Local 11Alive.

“It’s a tragedy beyond words,” Americus Police Chief Mark Scott said. “One of our family members has been taken from us.”

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