Police Negotiate With Suspected Cop Killer Jamie Hood

March 25, 2011

Jamie Hood is shown in a photo provided by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. The head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says authorities believe Hood, the man suspected in the shooting death of a police officer, is holding nine hostages at an Athens home. (Athens-Clarke County Police Department)

A suspected cop killer released four people he allegedly held against their will in an Athens, Ga., apartment, and authorities appealed to him to release a remaining four and surrender himself.

"We have a good rapport with him, and I know that he is concerned with his personal safety," Vernon Keenan, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, told reporters late Friday. "I want to promise him that if he will surrender unarmed, that he will not be harmed in any form or fashion."

The suspect, Jamie Hood, 33, has been the subject of a manhunt since Tuesday, when police believe he shot two police officers, killing one of them, as they tried to apprehend him in connection with a carjacking case.

Athens-Clarke County Police Department

Jamie Hood is shown in a photo provided by... View Full Size

Athens-Clarke County Police Department

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Authorities stormed the neighborhood of the Creekstone Apartments in Athens, Ga., Friday, evidently cornering Hood in an apartment there.

Officials negotiated with Hood throughout the evening.

"We are in communications with Mr. Hood," Keenan told reporters earlier. "It is our objective to have the safe release of the persons that are in the apartment with him and then to have the safe surrender of Mr. Hood. This is a very tense situation but we have a commitment to see the safe release of those persons and the safe surrender of Mr. Hood."

Earlier, officials brought members of Hood's family to the neighborhood but would not disclose why, ABC News Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV reported.

Hood's mother, Azalee Hood, told WSB reporter Richard Elliot by phone that she spoke with her son and that he wanted to turn himself in.

Athens-Clarke County Senior Police Officer Elmer "Buddy" Christian died in Tuesday's attack near an Athens apartment complex, while Senior Police Officer Tony Howard was shot in the face and upper body, according to reports. Howard is recovering.