Hundreds gather to remember fallen Locust Grove officer

LOCUST GROVE, Ga. - Hundreds of Georgians gathered together Saturday night to remember fallen Locust Grove Officer Chase Maddox.

A crowd of Henry County residents and first responders from across metro Atlanta joined together outside the Locust Grove Police Department to raise a light or a candle for the 26-year-old brother in blue, husband, and father, who plenty of people said loved to serve and protect, and cared about the community.

"It hurts my heart terribly because it doesn't happen in Locust Grove," one resident said.

Butts County Sheriff Gary Long says the death of Maddox hits the heart of law enforcement everywhere.

"It always hits you hard anytime you see this anytime in the country, but when it's this close to home ... it's the officers like officer Maddox that make the difference," he said.

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Locust Grove's Police Chief read a statement from his family.

"He died doing what he loved," the statement read. "Please continue to pray for our family."

The Henry County Native leaves behind his wife Alex, a young son, and a baby who is due in days.

Law enforcement led a procession of Maddox's body from the GBI Saturday afternoon.

Investigators now say that Maddox was shot three times with a fatal blow to the head on Friday, during a call with two Henry County deputies to serve a warrant at a home on Saint Francis Court. The warrant was for a failure to appear in court on a traffic violation.

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Two other deputies were struck and the gunman, 39-year-old Tierre Guthrie, was shot four times.

Deputy Mike Corley has been released from the hospital. Loved ones tell FOX 5 that Deputy Sid Callaway is in stable condition and is in an out of consciousness with a wound to the lower abdomen. People are asking the public to pray for his recovery.

The Locust Grove Police Department put up a post on Facebook thanking everyone for their overwhelming support during this tough time.

They also say they appreciate the cards, emails, and messages from everyone.