When a 26-year-old Georgia police officer was shot to death, the authorities believe that it was an ambush.

Dylan Harrison was killed around 1 AM on a Saturday. Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Natalie Ammons said that Harrison worked full-time as a member of the Oconee Drug Task Force. The night he was killed outside the Alamo police station, he was working his first shift with the Alamo Police Department. The shooting happened 90 miles southeast of Macon, and about 124 miles west of Savannah.

In a Facebook post, the McRaey-Helena Police Department stated that they believe that Harrison was ambushed. After his untimely passing, Harrison leaves behind a wife and their six-month-old child.

And now, the police have arrested 43-year-old Damien Anthony Ferguson at his home who is a suspect for Harrison’s death. This is not the first time that Ferguson is involved in similar crimes. He has a record in connection with aggravated assault on a police officer case in 1998. He was sentenced to eight years in prison but was released from prison in 2006. In fact, Ferguson is described as being armed and dangerous.

Lindsey Wilkes, the special agent in charge of the bureau’s office in Eastman explained during a news conference that the shooting occurred after an “altercation” at a Circle K gas station just across the street from the Alamo police department. Harrison used his stun gun on a man who had been involved in a traffic violation after he didn’t comply with the officer’s orders.

Even though Wilkes didn’t identify the man or provide additional details about his noncompliance, she said that he was “associated” with Ferguson. She explained, “It is believed the ambush-style attack on Officer Harrison was in retaliation for the incident.”

Alamo Police Chief Karen Zanders also said, “He was a husband, a son, and more importantly, a father of a 6-month-old boy. His life was taken from him for simply doing his job.”

It was still unclear whether Ferguson already had an attorney who will represent his case.

After the tragic incident, messages of support for his department and family poured in.

Dunwoody Police posted: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Dylan Harrison and the Alamo Police Department. Officer Harrison was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty early this morning while working his first shift with Alamo PD. RIP and thank you for your service.”

Commissioner Shea also shared the tragic incident on social media. He wrote: “Early this morning, Officer Dylan Harrison was shot & killed while working his very first shift with the Alamo Police Department in Georgia. Dylan is survived by his wife & 6-month-old-baby. Our hearts go out to Dylan’s family, friends, & colleagues as they mourn his loss.”

Raymond Tubb also wrote: “This is Alamo police officer Dylan Harrison, murdered last night. He leaves behind a wife and 6mo. old baby. #endofwatch 10/08/21. There is a #BlueAlert & $17.5K reward for the arrest of his killer. #OfficerDown”

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, Harrison has worked at various public safety agencies since 2015. The Alamo Police Department has nine officers and five are working part-time. Harrison was the first Alamo officer who got killed in the line of duty.

Officer Dylan Harrison shot and killed on his FIRST shift on the job in Georgia. His suspected killer is at large. https://t.co/disTYB6nZA

— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) October 9, 2021