A Centerville police officer is in the hospital after he was shot while responding to a call about a domestic dispute on Friday night.
After shooting the officer, Corporal Jeremy Mashuga, the suspect barricaded himself into the home at the corner of Jeanette Place and Vanessa Drive, according to GBI Special Agent in Charge J.T. Ricketson.
What we know about Corporal Mashuga: "He's a team player, always willing and ready to help."
The suspect was identified as Perry Baggett while he was still barricaded inside of the home.
According to Ricketson, the call came in from a neighbor as a domestic dispute between a man and a woman in the home around 10 p.m. on Friday. The neighbor reportedly heard a lot of shouting and yelling.
Initially, two officers including Mashuga arrived on scene.
Baggett started firing at the officers after they arrived on scene. Ricketson added that the officers did not fire back at him.
After Baggett started firing at the officers, Mashuga was shot in his abdomen and the other responding officer put him behind a vehicle and dispatched the Warner Robins Police Department for help.
Shortly after back up arrived, Mashuga was shot in his foot and he was moved away from the scene and taken to Medical Center, Navicent Health for treatment.
The Houston County tactical team and the Warner Robins tactical team used a tactical vehicle to retrieve the woman from the yard. She was not injured.
During the standoff with the suspect, Houston County negotiators made multiple attempts to communicate with Baggett. Ricketson says contact was made several times.
The GBI also had a remote-controlled robot on scene equipped with cameras, which was used to surveil the scene inside the perimeter established by law enforcement.
Ricketson confirmed that the suspect had fired multiple rounds at the officers.
The robot planted an explosive charge at the door of the home.
According to Ricketson, the charge blew the door open.
Officers also fired tear gas into the home.
Houston County, Warner Robins, and Peach SWAT teams were all on the scene with Houston County leading.
Around 6:30 a.m., Baggett was taken into police custody and transported to Navicent Health for treatment.
After being treated he was taken to the Houston County jail.
Corporal Jeremy Mashuga is out of surgery and doing well.
According to Ricketson, the GBI will investigate the scene at least until Sunday morning. So far, they have recovered two guns from outside of the home.
He says it may take a few days to find out who the guns are licensed to.
