Cobb police rescue 2 girls in alleged child trafficking operation, shoot suspect, GBI says

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Two young girls are safe and a suspect is recovering after police conducted a child trafficking operation at a Cobb County motel, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

Investigators said Cobb County’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was conducting an investigation at the Red Roof Inn at 1190 Winchester Parkway in Smyrna Tuesday night.

Investigators said they knocked on the door and a young girl opened the door. Inside the room were two young girls with Atwon White, 29, of Williamson, Georgia, the GBI said. When White saw the investigators, he pointed a handgun at the officers and ran out the room and into the parking lot, investigators said. In the parking lot, he pointed the handgun at a uniformed Cobb County police officer, at which time, the officer shot White once with his issued rifle, the GBI said.

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White was treated at the scene and taken to Kennesaw Hospital. White is reported to be in critical condition, but is expected to survive, the GBI said.

No one else was injured in the incident. The two girls were rescued and are being treated and helped by authorities.

The GBI is investigating the officer-involved shooting portion of the incident. Cobb County police will also continue to conduct the trafficking investigation.

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This is the 82nd officer-involved shooting the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2021.

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