Updated: Officer-Involved Shooting in Lilburn

Updated March 19, 11:30 a.m.: Lilburn Police Department has identified the suspect in a March 18 shoplifting incident at a Family Dollar.

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The Lilburn Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting at a local Family Dollar.

Police initially responded to a call of a "theft in progress" about 1:30 p.m. at the Family Dollar located at 5279 Lawrenceville Highway, according to a press release. 

When the officer confronted the suspect at the store, he began to fight with the officer, police said.

"The officer pulled his city-issued taser, and the suspect took the officer's taser from him," the release stated. "The officer then pulled his service weapon out and shot him twice."

Police said the suspect was shot once in the chest and once in the face. The officer was not hurt during the altercation.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office were contacted to investigate the case.

"The preliminary investigation shows the officer was defending his own life, and his decision to use deadly force was justified," said Lilburn Police Chief Bruce Hedley. "The GBI will be complete a thorough and exhaustive investigation and will return their findings as soon as possible."

Check back with Patch for updates on this story. 

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