Photos show the extent of the damage to the Crossland Downs condominium-style apartment complex on Wire Road and Stonegate Drive, where a fire broke out as police attempted to apprehend a man suspected of shooting an Auburn police officer.
A massive law enforcement manhunt for a subject suspected of shooting an Auburn police officer closed in on Crossland Downs Friday. Police located the suspect and a woman with him in one of the units.
Police believe the suspect, Christopher James Wallace, 38, died in a fire at Crossland Downs after he and the woman who was with him refused to exit the condo when the heavily armed police force descended on them.
READ MORE: 'All I smell is gunpowder': Crossland Downs residents witness police pursuit of shooting suspect
A team of local, state and federal law enforcement deployed tear gas and distraction devices in an effort to capture Wallace and the woman subject with him. The Lee County coroner located their bodies in a back room of the unit.
The State Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case.
“We're conducting an investigation at the request of the Auburn Police Department in reference to the officer-involved shooting incident that happened at yesterday’s date,” SBI Lt. Shawn Loughridge said. “Everything’s under preliminary investigation right now, and we’re just gathering evidence and collecting evidence from the scene last night.”
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, police said. The investigation is ongoing. The Auburn Fire Division attempted to put the fire out.
The wounded officer — identified today as five-year police veteran Justin Sanders — is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
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