Georgia mourns slain Americus officer

AMERICUS, Ga. — The second officer killed while responding to a domestic violence call last week in Americus was buried Wednesday.

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen joined the hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Officer Jody Smith at Georgia Southwestern State University.

Those close to him told Petersen that Smith loved his job on the campus. But he had just applied to the Americus Police Department, because wanted to work side-by-side with his best friend, Officer Nicholas Smarr.

Last week, Smith and Smarr were killed while responding to a domestic violence call.

Smarr's funeral was last Sunday. Most who attended that service returned for Smith’s.

Mourners say what happened fills them with sorrow.

“A whole lot. It was senseless," Americus resident Brenda Davis told Petersen.

Hundreds gathered to say goodbye to one of their own Wednesday.

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Smith patrolled the Georgia Southwestern campus where he once attended classes.

He grew up in Americus, a town that had managed to preserve its innocence.

"Stuff like this doesn't happen here. We're speechless," friend Mallory Pilcher told Petersen

And now a community must find a way to carry on.

"Time. And caring for each other. That's the only way we can," said family friend Horton Davis.

Smith was engaged to be married. The wedding was set for next May.

Cox Media Group