Police: Off-duty deputy killed by cousin in Palmetto

PALMETTO, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations identified the teenage suspect in the deadly shooting of an off-duty Coweta County deputy at a Palmetto, Georgia home Tuesday night.

Palmetto police were called to a home on Snowfall Terrace near the Fulton-Coweta county line around 9:40 p.m. for a shots fired call.  When they arrived, they found 25-year-old Coweta County Sheriff's Deputy Edmond Irvin shot at least once. Coweta County officials said the deputy apparently got into a physical altercation with his cousin which ended in gunfire.

Neighbor Lisa Hernandez told FOX 5's Deidra Dukes,  "I heard two gunshots but I didn't think nothing of it.  Then I seen the gentleman ( Long) running."

Hernandez said Long appeared upset as he ran out of his residence, past her house. 

"He said a few words to me like he was mad, angry and then he took off running."

The suspect was arrested at a mobile home park about five miles away without incident. The GBI has identified the suspect as 17-year-old Danny Long.

Investigators said there were other adults in the house at the time of the shooting, including the victim's fiancé. They told police they heard the shots but did not see anything.  

Long has been charged with a count of murder and a count of terroristic threats. He currently is being held at the Fayette County Jail.

The GBI is continuing to investigate the shooting.  

Hernandez has known the suspect and his family for years and says none of this makes sense.

 "I been trying to figure out all morning what made him snap? What was the argument so bad about to make him take that man's life?"