Funeral held for slain Americus officer

Funeral services for an Americus police officer killed in the line of duty took place on Sunday afternoon.

RELATED: GBI: Second officer shot in Americus has died

Nicholas Ryan Smarr was responding to a domestic dispute Wednesday when he and Georgia Southwestern State University campus policeman Jody Smith were fired on.

Smarr’s funeral was planned for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Southwestern State University Storm Dome. Pastor Ricky Smarr and Americus Police Chief Mark Scott are officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Services are pending for Smith.

Suspected shooter Minguell Lembrick was found dead Thursday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A statement was released on the Walton Country GA Sheriff’s Facebook page:

” Our hearts break for Americus Police Dept. and all of Sumter County. Thank you to three of our very best deputies who felt led to travel to Americus today to attend the funeral of one of their brothers, Nicholas Smarr who was one of two law enforcement officers killed last week.

Please pray for his family, Sumter County and its people and ALL law enforcement everywhere. These are hard times for those committed to keeping you safe. When will it stop?”

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