Suspect dies, trooper wounded in Atlanta-area chase

Video from Georgia Department of Transportation cameras showed multiple lanes of traffic shut down in the area while authorities investigated the shooting.

Atlanta’s NBC affiliate 11Alive reports that a Georgia State Patrol trooper and a suspect were both shot. Their conditions were unknown, but the trooper was conscious, according Jen Talaber, a spokeswoman for Gov. Nathan Deal.

Trooper Jacob Fields was one of the three troopers who exchanged fire with Israel Vladimir Rodriguez, 26, of Acworth after a chase which ended just before 4 p.m Wednesday.

A State Patrol spokesman says Rodriguez was speeding when Trooper Jacob Fields attempted to pull him over.

Several other troopers joined the chase over the next 10 miles. He was shot in the leg and abdomen by Rodriguez, who, according to Perry, emerged from his truck shooting after hitting the back of an SUV near Delk Road.

After surgery Wednesday evening, officials said Fields had a prognosis for a full recovery.

While officers were attempting to stop the driver of the Silverado, the truck hit a second civilian vehicle, which disabled the truck.

All three troopers who exchanged fire with Rodriguez were placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, standard procedure in such cases.

Channel 2’s Jason Durden said for drivers to use U.S. Highway 41 to get around the backup on I-75.

Perry didn’t speak to Fields but said he heard the trooper speaking to his family.

Now there are only two lanes of I-75 allowing traffic through.

Dozens of semi-trailers remained parked on the side of Interstate 75 on Thursday morning, more than 12 hours after a vehicle chase and shootout involving a Georgia state trooper led to a massive traffic jam.

The Associated Press obtained the police radio communications on Thursday under Georgia’s open records law.

Both men were taken to the emergency room at Kennestone Hospital.

Georgia State Patrol Capt. Mark Perry. “You can’t say enough about what those Cobb officers did on the scene until EMS got there”.