Two Byron police officers shot during drug raid

BYRON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two Byron police officers were injured during a drug raid early Monday morning in Crawford County.

The Fort Valley Department of Public Safety confirms both of the officers are in stable condition with non life-threatening injuries.

The GBI says 31-year-old Rainer Tyler Smith is the man who shot them.

He used a shotgun and fired at least twice.

“When I was woke up and was told what was going on, it was a shock,” said neighbor Cindy Higgins.

Higgins never expected this.

“It’s really quiet out here,” said Higgins.

She lives across the street from where the officers were shot.

“Well about 2:30, Donny, my husband, was sitting on the front porch. He was smoking, getting ready to go to work, and he heard the gunshots.”

Smith used his shotgun to fire two shots.

He was sleeping in the home with his girlfriend and a month old child.

“It was bad–I mean there was blue lights everywhere,” said Higgins. “The dogs were barking, there were two ambulances escorting them to the hospital.”

J.T. Ricketson with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says officers had probable cause to move forward with a drug raid at the home on Georgia Highway 42 near Walton Road.

“They went in, and he said when they went in he heard about 10 gunshots,” said Higgins, speaking about what her husband told her.

The officers returned fire, killing the suspect.

Higgins isn’t surprised drugs could’ve been involved.

“Back there in the field there’s people going in and out all the time,” said Higgins. “So I mean you always suspect things. But I stay to myself, I don’t bother people.”

She hopes the investigation will continue smoothly.

“I appreciate the law enforcement trying to keep us safe,” said Higgins. “But it’s sad that people have no respect for them anymore. And you know I’ve just been praying like when I heard they went in that gate and the gunshots I was just like ‘Lord help them’ because people don’t care anymore–whether they’re a cop or whoever–and that’s sad.”

Ricketson says agents will now look at bullet trajectories.

They’ll look at where the shooter was located and where the bullets traveled to help recreate what happened.