Law enforcement escorts fallen DeKalb County officer on his final trip home

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A family is now planning the funeral for a DeKalb County officer shot and killed in the line of duty.

Law enforcement officials from across metro Atlanta escorted the body of fallen Officer Edgar Flores, 24, from DeKalb County to his home in Habersham County.

Channel 2's Lauren Pozen was in DeKalb County Saturday morning, where the procession began. Dozens of patrol cars formed a long line to escort Flores' hearse, and officers lined up along roads to salute.

Flores' body was taken to a funeral home to be prepared for burial. Fellow officers have set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral expenses.

Flores was killed after he stopped 33-year-old Brandon Taylor in an SUV on Candler Road on Thursday night.

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Investigators say Taylor shot Flores, then ran behind a building to hide. Officers sent a police K-9 after him, and they said Taylor shot the dog, too. That was when police shot and killed Taylor.

The police K-9, named Indi, is stable.

Channel 2 Action News learned that Flores was engaged to be married and he would have turned 25 on Tuesday.

Pozen talked to Kathy Marks, who came in from out of town to pay her respects.

"While we were here we saw the news broadcast about the police officer that was gunned down," Marks said. "We really have been thinking about it for the last few days.”

Marks said as a parent, she's heartbroken for the Flores family.

"I have a 26-year-old son, and I can't imagine what his parents must be going through, especially this time of year," Marks said.

Flores is being remembered as a hero: a man who loved his job and did it well during his short time with the DeKalb County Police Department.

"I think that it is awful that they are trying to save lives, and they expect to come home just like we do with their families," Marks said. "And it just seems like too many times, that doesn't happen."

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