GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Police are searching for the shooter who killed a Gwinnett County corrections officer Tuesday morning.
The shooting happened around 6:20 a.m. outside the Gwinnett County Correctional Center on Hi Hope Road near Swanson Drive. Police identified the victim as 59-year-old Scott Riner, who worked at the center for 10 years.
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Investigators believe the suspect and Riner got into a confrontation before the shooting. Riner’s co-workers found him shot in the parking lot, according to police.
Police said at this time they do not have a description of the suspect but did release a surveillance photo of who they are looking for. They later released surveillance footage of the suspect walking away.
Channel 2′s Tom Jones was at the facility Tuesday, where work release residents shared kind words about Riner.
The residents who are housed at the facility but allowed to leave for work said Riner treated them with respect and didn’t judge them or look down on them.
“In my opinion, he was a cool officer,” Santino Cole said. “He didn’t cause no one problems. He was an outstanding guy. He spoke, said ‘Good morning. How y’all doing?’”
Cole said he was really sad to lose Riner.
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Sgt. Jennifer Richter said officers are still going step-by-step looking for evidence, but they are doing it with heavy hearts.
“Anytime we lose one of our own, it’s extremely difficult,” Richter said.
Cole said he never thought a corrections officer would be killed at work.
“It blew my mind. I was in a lot of shock to hear that,” Cole said. “And I don’t know, maybe one of the inmates took something personal.”
One man Jones spoke to said Riner gave him advice, telling him to finish his probation and choose a career that will take him far in life.
Police say they will keep working until they found the person who took Riner’s life.
Police are asking anyone who was in the area where the shooting happened between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Tuesday morning to contact detectives. Police said they are particularly interested in people who may have dash cam footage in the area.
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