A Georgia man is the subject of a police manhunt and reward after a shooting in the city of Americus, Georgia, yesterday. According to law enforcement, Minguell Kennedy Lembrick shot two cops after the officers responded to a domestic dispute call. Americus police officer, Nicholas Smarr, 25, was killed; and Georgia Southwestern State University officer Jody Smith was critically wounded during the attack,
As police searched for Lembrick, a half hour after the shooting, he started posting to social media. He wrote, “Other life gone not going to jail,” in addition there was a video of a shadowy figure assumed to be Lembrick stating, “I’m gonna miss y’all folk, man.” The last message on his Facebook profile page was “Love, y’all,” before the account was deactivated by Facebook.
Lembrick has a violent criminal history that includes multiple felony warrants, but officers responding to the 911 call did not know these facts.
“We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends. There are no words to express the pain and the sorrow we in Americus feel at this loss,” Americus Police Chief Mark Scott said to the media.
The FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are offering a $20K reward for Lembrick’s capture. The Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Bryon Police Department and Fort Valley Police Department added another $10,000 cash reward. Lembrick is considered armed and dangerous and may have been wounded in the exchange of gunfire with the officers. Georgia Southwestern University posted the following on its Facebook page:
“Campus Lockdown Update – Limited Release:
The suspect is still at large; however, Georgia Southwestern Public Safety is doing building-by-building releases presently. Please remain in place until they have visited your area. For residence halls, police officers will be stationed in every building. Once they have come to your residence hall, you may leave if traveling out of town. Please remain in your residence hall if staying in the Americus area.”
The city of Americus has a population of close to 20,000. The city is approximately 150 miles south of Atlanta. Anyone with information is being asked to call law enforcement at (229) 924-4102.
UPDATE: Following a 27-hour manhunt, Americus Police chief Mark Scott said Minquell Kennedy Lembrick, 32, was found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a residence on Allen Street on THursday morning, Dec. 8. Overnight, officials raised the award for Lembrick’s arrest to $70,000.
