North GA officer critical after being shot in the face, suspect on the run

A police officer in north Georgia is fighting for his life after being shot late Friday night, and the suspect is on the run.

Channel 2’s Bryan Mims is the only reporter LIVE on the scene during Channel 2 Action News Saturday AM.

McCaysville Chief of Police Michael Earley confirmed that officers were called to a report of a suspicious person along First Street.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

When officers arrived, the suspect opened fire, striking one of the officers in the face.

The officer was airlifted to a hospital in Chattanooga in critical condition. Earley said he suffered a broken neck and a brain bleed.

After the shooting, the suspect began an hours-long SWAT standoff that lasted all night.

Just after 7 a.m., police say they learned the suspect was not in the home, and they are now searching for him.

Neither the suspect nor the victim have been identified.

TRENDING STORIES:

STORY 1

STORY 2

STORY 3

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]