COLUMBUS - Police officers investigating the robbery of a restaurant delivery man Tuesday shot and killed a 17-year-old man suspected of the crime. <br>
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Officers Joseph Coats and Tony Cooper were searching the home where the driver from China Express was robbed, Police Chief Willie Dozier said, when they discovered Derrick Howard of Columbus hiding in a closet. Howard shot at the officers, Dozier said, and both officers fired back. <br>
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Muscogee County Coroner James Dunnavant said Howard was shot once in the chest. Neither officer suffered any injury. <br>
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Howard was rushed by ambulance to The Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. His body was sent to the state crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy. <br>
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Tyrone Smith, who lives in the house where the shooting happened, was taken to the Public Safety Center for questioning but had not been charged with any crimes as of Tuesday evening. <br>
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Police continue to investigate the shooting, Dozier said. Until the investigation is complete, Coats and Cooper will be placed on administrative leave, which is routine whenever an officer fires a weapon.
