Police Confrontation Turns Fatal

Two Fulton County officers were injured and a suspect was killed in a shootout at a local motel after police confronted a suspicious person Friday morning.

According to authorities, a Fulton County officer stopped a jaywalker near the Budgetel Inn and requested support from a South Fulton officer. When the assisting officer arrived, the suspect opened fire as the officer exited his patrol car.

South Fulton officer Lt. Charles Cook remains in critical condition after being shot three times; a Fulton County officer was also injured, and the unidentified suspect was shot and killed.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called to conduct an independent investigation, as is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.

  Judge Considers Venue Change in Gray Trial

A Barrow County judge ruled Thursday that Colin Gray, facing 29 charges tied to his son Colt’s alleged school shooting plot, will be tried by a jury from another county.

Attorneys on both sides agreed the trial would be difficult in Barrow County, with the defense citing fairness concerns and prosecutors noting the entire county was a victim in the case.

Judge Nicholas Primm agreed the trial would be difficult to hold in Barrow County but did not issue a ruling, stating he must decide whether to relocate the trial or bring in an outside jury.

Gray is the first known adult charged in connection with a school shooting in Georgia, highlighting a growing trend of prosecutors holding parents accountable for their children’s actions.

Georgia Among Most Affordable

A national ranking of child-rearing costs placed Georgia among the most affordable states—No. 45 in annual expenses and No. 48 in total costs over 18 years.

The rankings were based on each state’s average annual costs for rent, food, day care, clothing, transportation, and taxes. In Georgia, parents can expect to spend $19,162 annually on expenses and more than $200,000 over 18 years.

With a median household income of $91,356, Georgians spend about 13% on child care costs, while college represents 8%, with average in-state tuition at $7,197.

Hawaii ranked first with highest annual costs for child-rearing expenses and total costs over 18 years.

➤ Statewide: Georgia’s public colleges and universities hit a record spring enrollment of 345,823 students, marking a second year of growth following COVID-19-related declines in 2022 and 2023. (More)

➤ Atlanta: A new study found nearly one-third of Atlanta residents with retirement savings have only a year or less saved, with 22% having less than their annual income set aside. (More)

➤ Columbus: City leaders on Friday announced plans to attract organizations and companies for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, including historical reenactments by the Sons of the American Revolution. (More)

➤ Savannah: OCEARCH confirmed four sharks, including three great whites, have been tagged off the Florida-Georgia coast since the start of the year. (More)

➤ Columbia County: A commercial real estate firm submitted plans for an 8-million-square-foot data center valued at $11.6 billion, projected to generate over $118 million in local tax revenue annually. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks hosted the Miami Heat on Friday in the NBA Play-In Tournament, with the winner securing the No. 8 seed to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoff first round. (See Score)

➤ The Atlanta Braves are calling up veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo to help contribute in the absence of All-Star outfielder Jurickson Profar, who was suspended for half the season for taking performance-enhancing drugs. (More)

➤ Georgia equestrian head coach Meghan Boenig has been named the 2025 SEC Coach of the Year. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NCAABB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Georgians can expect another hot and dry summer, similar to last year’s season, according to Farmer’s Almanac 2025 summer weather predictions, anticipating above-average temperatures across most of the U.S. (More)

➤ Driftwood Beach on Georgia’s Jekyll Island earned a Travelers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor for its relaxing vibe, calm setting, and pet-friendly policies. (More)

➤ Adopt-a-Mom, an Athens-based Mother’s Day fundraiser, will honor more than 200 moms—especially single working mothers and nursing home residents—with games, brunch, and photo ops this year. (More)

Do you prefer Georgia’s beaches or mountains?

1. Beaches
2. Mountains
3. Neither

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever run a half-marathon or longer?

1. Yes: 27%
2. No: 73%

Where is the world’s largest freestanding sculpture of a bird?

Show me the answer