A suspect was arrested in Georgia on Friday after allegedly shooting dead a correctional officer in a parking lot earlier this week.
Gwinnett County Police said 22-year-old Yahya Abdulkadir was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m. Friday in the town of Lithonia. He is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in connection with the killing of 59-year-old Correctional Officer Scott Riner.
The shooting happened around 6:20 a.m. Tuesday morning in the parking lot of Gwinnett Correctional Center. According to investigators, Riner and Abdulkadir allegedly engaged in a confrontation when the officer was on his way to work.
GEORGIA CORRECTIONAL OFFICER KILLED IN SHOOTING AT GWINNETT CORRECTIONAL CENTER
Police released surveillance video of the incident and said the footage showed the suspect, who has since been identified as Abdulkadir, had been in the area for some time prior to the shooting. After the shooting, the suspect fled the area on foot.
Investigators never found a motive for the shooting.
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“It doesn’t appear that the officer and Mr. Abdulkadir knew each other, but as we move forward in this investigation, that could change,” Gwinnett County Police Sgt said. Jennifer Richter told FOX 5 Atlanta.
The US Marshall’s Office, ATF, the Gwinnett Sheriff’s Department and the Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office provided assistance in this case. Abdulkadir is sent back to Gwinnett County and committed to the Gwinnett Detention Center.
Riner worked in the correctional facility for around 10 years. He was a father and grandfather who, according to officials, was well loved and respected by the facility’s guards and prisoners.
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“My prayers truly go out to his family. I want his family to know that he was our family too and we will get through this together,” said Captain Audrey Henderson, who worked with Riner.
