Police identify DeKalb County officer killed in the line of duty

DECATUR, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Authorities have released the name of a DeKalb County Police officer who killed in the line of duty Thursday afternoon. 

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DeKalb County Police Officer Edgar Isidro Flores, 24, was fatally shot during a traffic stop along Candler Road. He was hired by the police department in May 2017. 

A police K-9 was also shot while in pursuit of the suspect but is recovering.

DeKalb County Police Chief James Conroy made the tragic announcement just after 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

"I have very sad news to report this evening..." the chief said, giving a long pause to fight back his visible emotions. "Sad, sad news to report this evening. A DeKalb County Police officer died this evening while serving in the line of duty serving the citizens of DeKalb County."

Chief Conroy said the officer made a traffic stop along Candler Road near Tilson Road around 5 p.m. The driver got out of the car and ran. The officer followed on foot. The chief said at some point during the chase, the suspect pulled out a handgun and fired at Officer Flores.

Flores was struck in the back of his head, according to police. He was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Officer Flores graduated from the academy on November 4, 2017, and was hired by the police department in May 2017. 

Chief Conroy said officers responded to the scene following the shooting including a K-9 unit. That K-9 was able to track the suspect, whose name has not yet been released, to behind a business along Candler Road.

The chief said the K-9 was shot by the suspect and nearby officers promptly returned fire, striking the suspect several times.

The suspect received several gunshot wounds, was transported to an area hospital where he later died. The chief said they couldn't release the name of the suspect, but said he was in his 20s to 30s.

"I am very proud of the men and women of the police department. They responded to the scene, were able to track the suspect, they did their job, and all while this was going on, the officers throughout the county providing services to DeKalb,” the chief said about how his department handles the situation.

Support has poured in from law enforcement agencies across metro Atlanta. Several different agencies responded to Grady Memorial Hospital to lend moral support and honor the officer's service.

FOX 5 Live brought the solemn procession escorting the body of the fallen officer from Grady Memorial Hospital around 8:45 p.m. Several dozen police officers from various agencies joined DeKalb County Police in the procession.

The chief said he called in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to handle the police-involved shooting, which he said was standard for shooting within their department which results in fatalities.