Alpharetta police officer shot multiple times during traffic stop

By Rebecca Fusco


Alpharetta officer, David Freeman, was shot five times, on Friday, during a traffic stop along Main Street. Freeman was gunned down by Curtis Hicks after being pulled over for an expired tag.  Hicks soon fled the parking lot and led police on a high-speed chase.  Hicks and the responding police officers released gun fire on one another, resulting in death.  Victims involved in the shoot-out are recovering at North Fulton Hospital.

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--- Alpharetta officer, David Freeman, was shot five times, on Friday, during a traffic stop along Main Street.  Freeman pulled over 52-year-old Curtis Hicks for a tag violation in the parking lot of a Christian bookstore.  As Freeman approached the black truck, Hicks opened fire.  “ The gunshots were so loud,” Debbie Allen, a passerby, said.  “I rolled down my windows and I could smell where the gunshots went off.  It’s scary to think that the gunman could of shot anyone in the area.” After shooting at Freeman, Hicks drove off and eventually got onto Georgia 400, driving at a fast speed. While Hicks drove off, Freeman took cover and was able to call for help.

D.U.I Center where Hicks was pulled over

Suspect opens fire on police officers

 Hicks led police on a car chase after injuring Freeman.  During the pursuit, Hicks began firing shots at the officers. After Freeman crashed north of the Northridge Road exit, he got out of his vehicle and opened fire, hitting four patrol cars. “Situations like this are extremely dangerous, especially in the open, where there are bystanders,” Aaron Shogren, police officer, said.  “The best thing to do is to take down the criminal to help keep everyone safe.” Hicks was shot and killed by authorities after he exchanged fire.  There were not any other officers injured during the shoot-out.  

Two people injured throughout night
Officer Freeman is in stable condition at North Fulton Hospital and is expected to have a full recovery.  Freeman was hit in the leg, lower abdomen, right arm and twice in the vest area.  Freeman will undergo surgery and has received paid vacation to rehabilitate. “Although I don’t work at North Fulton Hospital, I see tragic accidents like this all the time,” Courtney Holguin, Emory Hospital inter, said.  “It’s especially scary when one of the people who is supposed to be protecting us comes in injured.” Griselda Cervantes, of Woodstock, was also transported to North Fulton Hospital.  As Hicks continued to shoot at the authorities, one of his bullets hit the female driver in the hip. The bullet still remains in Cervantes' lower back.  Cervantes was traveling, in her SUV, with her 5-year-old daughter from paying her taxes.  She was shot during the chase, but was unsure at the time if it was from the suspect or police officers. This video will give you more insight into how the innocent bystander is doing as she recovers.

Delays in traffic from shooting 
 Georgia 400 traffic was re-routed to the Holcomb Bridge Road exit.  The lanes on Georgia 400 were reopened Saturday morning after being closed for several hours.  It was the second shooting on a Georgia freeway in two days. On Thursday afternoon, an unidentified man believed to be a Miami rap executive was shot dead in a Maybach luxury car on I-20 in DeKalb County.  

                                                         Traffic due to the shooting 

 Suspect is identified in cop shooting 
Hicks lived in a town home community on Oak Harbor Trail, off of Bells Ferry Road. Hicks' neighbors described him as being mentally ill in many ways. Many neighbors noticed his drastic weight loss, which caused much concern. The Oak Harbor Homeowner's Association confirmed that police attempted to to serve Hicks with papers for a lawsuit related to unpaid homeowner's fees; he owed thousands for years of unpaid dues."It's crazy to think that I pass that neighborhood to come to class," Daniel Dey, Kennesaw State University student, said. "The neighborhood always seems so calm and quiet, with rarely anyone entering or exiting it." Along with not paying his dues, Hicks' truck was also towed from the property last Wednesday. 

Curtis Hicks