Avondale Estates Officer Shoots Man Near Church

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that an Avondale Estates police officer shot and killed a man after a struggle in the woods behind the .

GBI spokesman John Bankhead told Decatur Patch the incident occurred early Friday afternoon. 

The Avondale Estates police officer - whose name has not been released - pulled an unidentified motorist into the church's parking lot, during a routine traffic stop.

"A worker here at the church told the officer that there was another individual nearby who was acting suspiciously," Bankhead said. "She asked the officer to investigate the situation.

"The suspect then took off and the officer gave chase."

Bankhead said the suspect was armed with a revolver. "After a chase and struggle in the woods, the officer shot the suspect," Bankhead said.

Bankhead said there is no connection between the traffic stop and the shooting incident.

The Avondale Estates police department requested the GBI investigate the incident.

The AJC is reporting that the officer is a three-year veteran of the Avondale Estates Police Department.