A Dekalb County police officer, who was shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday evening, was a 2012 graduate of Habersham Central High School in Mt. Airy.
Edgar Flores, 24, was shot in the head by a suspect who had fled the scene of a traffic accident on Candler Road in the Decatur area. He had only been on the police force for about a year and a half.
While he was in high school, Flores had a job at Jaemor Farm Market in Lula. Jeremy Echols, Manager for Homegrown Produce and Retail Sales at Jaemor, said Flores had been in the store just a couple of months ago.
"He came in here this fall and was telling me about how he became a cop down in Atlanta...he had gone to college and was branching out. He was just so happy," Echols said.
A Facebook post indicates Flores graduated from the University of North Georgia.
The news of Flores' death was devastating to friends at the business, according to Echols.
"[It was a feeling of] just heartbreak and confusion," Echols said.
One employee, whose son had grown up with Flores, left for the day after hearing the news.
"Nicholas had known him [Flores] his whole life. His oldest son graduated with him. They had grown up playing Pee Wee sports and soccer in middle and high school together," Echols said.
Despite the tragedy of Flores' death, Echols said he knew Flores died serving others.
"You can't help but admire him...to be a man who would lay down his life like that truly to protect and serve."
Flores' family still lives in Habersham County, according to local authorities.
