AMERICUS — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a press release Friday on the events of this week in Americus and the investigation into the shootings of two police officers — Americus Police Officer Nicholas Smarr, and Georgia Southwestern State University Officer Jody Smith — who both died of their injuries.
The release outlines the events, beginning Wednesday morning.
“At approximately 9:40 a.m., Officer Smarr received a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute at an apartment complex on South Lee Street. Officer Smarr responded to the call. Simultaneously, Officer Smith heard the call as well and responded.  They encountered the suspect who was later identified as Minquell Kennedy Lembrick, age 32, and at that point shots were fired. Both officers were shot and succumbed to their injuries.
“A 24-hour manhunt ensued with assistance from numerous agencies. On Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at approximately 10:02 a.m., law enforcement received information from a citizen that Lembrick was located inside the residence of 320 Allen Street. Peach County SWAT arrived on scene to begin roping off the perimeter. While setting up the perimeter, they heard one single gunshot. The SWAT team began negotiations and promised Lembrick’s safety. There was no response. Eventually, the SWAT team utilized a GBI EOD tactical robot to make entry into the residence. Once they entered, an individual who appeared to be deceased was observed in the front area of the house with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. EMS responded and pronounced him deceased. Subsequent fingerprint examinations by the FBI confirmed the deceased individuals’ identity as Minquell Lembrick.  The GBI conducted the death scene processing.
“Several agencies teamed together to offer a reward for information that would lead to Lembrick’s arrest. These agencies were the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Byron Police Department, Fort Valley Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, City of Americus, U.S. Marshals Service, Crisp County Drug Unit, Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Drug Unit, and the City of Andersonville. The total reward money offered rose to $70,000.
“Cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies was critical during this incident.”
The release also included an alphabetical listing of the agencies involved: Albany State University Police Department, Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit, Americus Fire Department, Americus Police Department, Ben Hill Sheriff’s Office, ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Byron Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Cordele Police Department, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Community Supervision, Department of Natural Resources, Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, Ellaville Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Fort Valley State University Police Department, Georgia Bureau of Investigation – Columbus, Americus, Douglas, Thomasville, Eastman, Perry, and Sylvester,
Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Southwestern State University Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service (USMS), Middle Flint Regional E9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center, Montezuma Police Department, Oglethorpe Police Department, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Schley County Sheriff’s Office, Stewart County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Tift County Sheriff’s Office, Turner County Sheriff’s Office, and Webster County Sheriff’s Office.