Suspect in outlet mall shooting killed in gun battle with FBI

ATLNTA — A veteran FBI agent was injured in a gun battle with a wanted suspect Friday afternoon in southwest Atlanta.

The agent was a member of the FBI task force assigned to tracking down Avery Richard, the man accused of shooting a Banks County Sheriff's Deputy outside of an outlet mall earlier this week.

After receiving a tip, the FBI SWAT team and ammo task force descended on a strip mall on MLK Drive around 4 p.m. and exchanged fire with the suspect.

Richard, who was on the run for two days, was killed in the shootout.

"I saw officers jump out of a car or van, wherever they came from, with guns in their hand," witness Richard Davis said.

A woman who was in a van with Richard was also shot. Her condition is unknown.

The FBI agent, whose name has not been released, is being treated at Grady Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities began searching for Richard Wednesday afternoon after they say he shot a Banks County sheriff's deputy outside the Tanger Outlet Mall in Commerce and then later kidnapped a woman from her home, forcing her to drive him to Atlanta.

"This is a huge, huge relief. As you know, this impacted many parts of the state. Everyone was on high alert. This is a huge sigh of relief," FBI special agent Steven Emmett said.

Channel 2 Action News learned Richard's problems with the law started more than a decade ago.

A document from the Department of Corrections shows he served 10 years for aggravated assault with intent to rape. He was just released this past October.

Cox Media Group