

November 1--  Last month a Lyons police officer was fired upon while working a second job as a security officer at a Lyons apartment complex.  Officer Timothy Sullivan was not hit, but a reward is being offered by Toombs-Montgomery CrimeStoppers to find the shooter.

Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker says, "I've got an officer who's been shot at who was doing nothing but working an off-duty security detail trying to make some extra money to support his family.  It's gotten to the point they can't even sit in uniform in a marked patrol vehicle without their lives being in danger.  This is the first incident like this that's happened in Lyons since I've been here and I'm taking it very seriously.

"I've come to CrimeStoppers to ask for reward money to hopefully entice witnesses to come forward and tell us who the shooter is.  We're going to do everything we can under the law to hunt down, arrest and prosecute this person for doing this," he said.

Officer Sullivan said two or three shots were fired at him from a vacant lot near South 11th Street and East Grady Street the evening of Wednesday, October 18th after he observed a group of young black males who scattered and ran after seeing him.  One, however, took a shooting stance and fired at the officer.  He missed but bullet marks were found on the side of a nearby church.  He was seen wearing a pink or salmon colored sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Police have found a .22 caliber pistol which may be related to the incident and also found two stolen shotguns and a rifle in nearby woods.

Chief Walker believes the cast is gang related.

If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 912-386-4480.  You do not have to give your name and you can claim the reward if your information leads to an arrest.