<p>A suspect killed in a shootout that also left a police officer dead was wanted for murder in Louisiana.</p><p>Lucas D. Palmer, 25, died Thursday night during a foot chase with police. DeKalb County Police Detective Dennis Carmen Stepnowski, 33, died later at a hospital, where he was taken after the shooting.</p><p>Palmer, who was from Lacombe, La. _ 26 miles north of New Orleans _ was wanted in connection with a February murder in his hometown, said Capt. George Bonnett, spokesman for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. Neighbors at the Atlanta-area apartment complex where he lived said Palmer fled Lacombe after Hurricane Katrina and had just gotten out of jail Thursday before the shootout.</p><p>Stepnowski was a member of the police SWAT unit and had been with the department for more than 10 years, his colleagues said. He was married.</p><p>The incident began when Stepnowski and another officer, who were on routine patrol, saw the suspect, determined he was suspicious and chased him, police spokesman Sgt. Charles Dedrick said.</p><p>At some point during the chase, "shots were fired," Dedrick said, without elaborating on who fired first.</p><p>Palmer was killed when police returned fire.</p><p>Witnesses said they heard at least 10 shots in rapid succession. Two neighbors in the complex said they saw the shooting.</p><p>Torrey Gails, 16, said the police officer was shot a couple of times in the throat before another officer shot the suspect.</p><p>Gails said the slain man had just gotten out of jail on Thursday and did not want to go back. He said the man went by the name "N.O." because he was from the New Orleans area.</p><p>Hundreds of Katrina evacuees were relocated to four large apartment complexes in that area of Stone Mountain.</p><p>Roderick Bennett, 20, said his family plans to move from the complex after the killing. He said when the complex was filled with Georgia residents, there was not as much violence.</p><p>"They think they can come to Georgia and do what they want to do. When people from Georgia were around, there was no trouble," he said.</p><p>The incident unfolded in a grassy area bordered by a playground between four apartment buildings. In the center, beside a cluster of oak trees and a park bench, is the spot where a neighbor, Vaughn Smith, said the suspect was killed. Just a few feet away, on the other side of the trees, is where the police officer was shot, Smith said.</p><p>In the vinyl siding of three of the four apartment building, bullet holes were visible Friday morning. A puddle of blood remained at the base of one of the trees.</p><p>Normally, Smith said, the playground area is full of kids. Friday it was quiet.</p><p>In a prepared statement, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones called Stepnowski's death a tragedy.</p><p>"I am deeply saddened," he said. "My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Dennis Carmen Stepnowski and the DeKalb County Police Department."</p><p>___</p><p>Dorie Turner in Atlanta contributed to this report.</p>
