DeKalb County police officer, suspect killed in shootout

<p>A police officer was mortally wounded when a foot chase at an apartment turned into a shootout that also killed the suspect, who neighbors said was a Hurricane Katrina evacuee.</p><p>DeKalb County Police Detective Dennis Carmen Stepnowski, 33, died Thursday night at a hospital, where he was taken after the shooting.</p><p>The suspect's name was not immediately released. A neighbor, Vaughn Smith, said the man and his family moved to Atlanta from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.</p><p>Stepnowski was a member of the police SWAT unit and had been with the department for 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>The man was killed when police returned fire.</p><p>Witnesses said they heard at least 10 shots in rapid succession.</p><p>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 New Orleans, but added that many residents did not know him because he had just moved to the complex when he got out of jail.</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 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 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>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/6/121351