Tributesare pouring in for a Georgia police officerwho was killed in the line of duty, with communitymembers and law enforcement agencies remembering him as a dedicated officer and friend.
Warm Springs Police Sgt. Chris Fisher was killed Sept. 1 after authorities said a driver opened fire on his patrol vehicle in the parking lot of the Meriwether Country Inn.
Fisher had just finished an unrelated traffic stop, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
In the hours following his death, flowers and balloons were placed outside the Warm Springs Police Department as people in the small community gathered to honor Fisher.
Here's what to know.
Georgia leaders pay tribute
The tributes have also come from Georgia's top officials.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr shared a message
on social media remembering Fisher and calling him a hero.
"Putting on the uniform shouldn't put a target on your back," Carr wrote, adding that law enforcement officers need to be supported every day.
Carr also said he was praying for Fisher’s family and the officers he served alongside.
Gov. Brian Kemp also shared his condolences, saying the death was a tragic reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face while serving their communities.
Kemp asked Georgians to lift Fisher's family and fellow officers in prayer.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also paid tribute to Fisher as his body was escorted from GBI headquarters.
GBI employees lined up to watch the police escort and thanked Fisher for his service and dedication to protecting his community.
The agency said its thoughts and prayers were with Fisher's friends and family, including his law enforcement family.
Fisher joined the Warm Springs Police Department in May and was promoted to sergeant in July. He was a husband and father of two children.
Shooting came days after arrest
The GBI continues to investigate Fisher's death. The suspect, 23-year-old Jimmy Lee Steverson, was later located in Anderson, South Carolina, where authorities said he suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died.
Fisher's death came just days after he had arrested Steverson, according to court records. Fisher was listed as the arresting officer in Steverson's Aug. 28 case, in which he faced felony charges including obstruction, possession of a firearm during an attempted crime and marijuana possession.
Steverson was later released on bond. Investigators have not said whether that previous encounter played a role in the shooting.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia officials honor officer after deadly shooting, 'He's a hero'
