Friday, April 25, 2003

Police officer found dead

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

The search continues for clues in the killing of a police officer in South Fulton County Tuesday night.

Officer Aaron Blount was pronounced dead at Grady Hospital late Tuesday night after a Fulton County police officer discovered Blount dead in his vehicle at the intersection of Roosevelt Highway and Ben Hill Road in Red Oak.

Fulton County Public Information Office Major Wenda Phifer said Blount, 26, was not responding to a call, but had apparently stumbled on suspicious activity when he activated his blue light Tuesday night.

Blount was shot multiple times in his vehicle, and police recovered a semiautomatic weapon at the crime scene, Phifer said.

"We are all just in a state of shock," she said.

Blount had just had his wedding invitations mailed out earlier in the day, and leaves behind a 13-month old son. His killing marks the first-ever killing of a police officer in South Fulton County, Phifer said.

Phifer said another office discovered Blount in his vehicle at 10:08 p.m. Tuesday, and Blount was transported to Grady.

Police believe Blount may have stopped a robbery attempt.

Phifer said her department is heading to the Governor's office to see if their is reward money available, and said $2,000 has already been pledged towards a reward fund.

Anyone with information on the crime should calla special hotline at 404-699-4210.