GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Police are seeking the gunman who murdered a Gwinnett County prison officer on Tuesday morning.
At around 6:20 a.m., a gunshot occurred outside the Gwinnett County Correctional Center on Hi Hope Road near Swanson Drive. The fatality was named Scott Riner, 59, who worked at the institution for a decade.
Prior to the shooting, investigators think the suspect and Riner had a confrontation. According to authorities, Riner’s coworkers discovered him shot in the parking lot.
Police said they do not have a description of the culprit at this time, but they have released a surveillance picture of the person they are seeking. Later, they revealed a security video of the suspect fleeing.
At work, a Gwinnett County corrections officer was shot and murdered; the culprit is on the lam. Tuesday, Tom Jones of Channel 2 visited the prison, where inmates on work release praised Riner.
Residents permitted to leave the institution to work said that Riner treated them with respect and did not judge or look down on them.
Santino Cole said, “He was a cool cop in my perspective.” “He did cause no one trouble. He was a remarkable individual. He spoke and greeted the audience with “Good morning.” How all of you were doing?'”
Cole said that he was devastated by Riner’s death. Sgt. Jennifer Richter said that police are continuously searching for evidence step by step but with sorrowful hearts.
Richter said, “Whenever we lose one of our own, it is incredibly tough.” Cole said he never imagined a prison officer would be murdered on the job.
“It stunned me. “I was shocked to hear it,” Cole said. “And I have no idea, but maybe one of the convicts stole something personal.” One individual Jones met with said that Riner advised him to complete his probation and find a job that would take him far.
The police said they would continue investigating until they identified the individual who murdered Riner. Tuesday morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m., anybody who was in the vicinity where the incident occurred is asked to call investigators. The police have shown a special interest in those who may have dash cam video from the area.