Beloved Cop Gunned Down; Suspect Captured

Police tape surrounding a tree and police car.

(DCWatchdog.com) – In a heart-wrenching tragedy, Roswell Police Officer Jeremy Labonte was shot and killed while responding to a suspicious activity call at a local pickleball club on Friday night, with the suspect captured.

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This marks the first Roswell, Georgia, police death in the line of duty since 1986.

Officer Jeremy Labonte was just 24 years old and had bravely served the Roswell Police Department since November 2021.

While answering a call concerning a suspicious person at the shopping center on Market Blvd., Labonte approached Edward Espinoza, 23, for questioning, a decision that ended his life.

Espinoza was found in the ACE Pickleball Club parking lot and allegedly opened fire on Labonte, delivering the fatal shots that would send shockwaves through the community.

The officer was rushed to a nearby hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life but, tragically, he didn’t survive his injuries.

This tragedy has left his wife and son mourning for a husband and father they will never see again, ripping apart the plans of a family who were just days away from a much-anticipated vacation.

Authorities swiftly apprehended Espinoza, who now faces severe charges, including murder and aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer.

He was booked into Fulton County Jail with a weapons charge looming over his head.

As the legal process rolls out, Espinoza’s supposed actions will face staunch public and legal scrutiny, working towards justice for Labonte’s grieving family and the entire law enforcement community.

“Today the Roswell community is gravely affected and saddened by the loss of this outstanding young man who dedicated his life to protecting us” stated Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson, cited by Atlanta News First.

In Roswell, the police department lowered its flags to half-staff in honor of Labonte’s selfless service.

The community has been invited to leave tributes, celebrating an officer who gave his life to safeguard the very streets they traverse.

A meal delivery initiative has been set up to support the police department during this period of mourning, demonstrating how this small Georgia town comes together in hardship.

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson expressed the pervasive grief enveloping the community.

Speaking for the city’s residents, Wilson acknowledged the deep and painful loss of Labonte, a sentiment echoed by Governor Brian Kemp, who kindly asked Georgians to keep Labonte’s family in their thoughts and prayers.

“More information will be released in the coming days, but our priority now is to surround and support the family of our fallen officer and grieving department. We ask that your hearts and your prayers stand with us in doing the same,” the police department said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in this investigation, focusing on piecing together the details of that fatal night.

The results will ultimately decide Espinoza’s fate in the hands of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. It is unclear if Espinoza has acquired legal representation for his defense.