COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Eric Minix, a Coweta County sheriff's deputy, was killed in the line of duty early Thursday morning in Alabama at the end of conducting a chase.
It was a tragic incident in which a local officer struck him after he got out of his car to approach a suspected stolen vehicle that had led the chase across state lines.
"He is very much loved," Coweta Sheriff Lenn Wood said at a Thursday afternoon press conference. "He was a friend, a father, a son, a brother -- but most of all he was a law enforcement officer first. That's all he ever wanted to do."
Here's a little bit on we've learned about Deputy Minix:
Coweta County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Minix | What we know
- The deputy was struck by a Lanett, Ala. police officer: Minix was outside his own vehicle and approaching the suspect vehicle when, Sheriff Wood said, the local officer came on the scene and could not stop in time before hitting the Coweta deputy. Minix had been chasing a stolen vehicle out of Douglas County.
- Minix was a beloved family man: The deputy leaves behind a wife and three daughters.
- His family is devastated, Sheriff Wood said: The sheriff added they've been receiving a lot of support from the community. Tentative plans for funeral services are Monday morning, the sheriff added.
- Minix worked with a K-9: Sheriff Wood mentioned that the deputy's K-9 partner was on scene, but not injured in the incident.
- He'd been in law enforcement about a decade: The sheriff said Minix joined the Coweta force first in 2014, then joined the Tyrone Police Department for several years before he "saw the grass is greener over here and he came back to us." He was with the Crime Suppression Unit in the sheriff's office.
- Sheriff Wood praised his professionalism and service: "He is the epitome of what we work for here at the Coweta County Sheriff's Office, is to get officers like Eric who is dedicated to the county to make sure things are safe for the citizens and for his family and our families."
- The suspected driver in the chase is in custody: The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Thursday his charges include felon first degree receiving stolen property and felon attempting to elude.
- The Alabama officer was placed on administrative leave: An investigation is pending, the Lanett Police Department said in an earlier statement.
- Sheriff Wood asked for prayers: "What these men and women do every day is dangerous, and I ask that you pray for him and his family, for our family, the Coweta County Sheriff's Office family, but also pray for the Lanett Police Department and the officer involved - all the officers involved last night, pray for each and every one of them."