Police officer shot dead in US state of Georgia

A police officer has been shot and killed in the US state of Georgia. 

Patrol Officer Tim Smith was fatally shot on Saturday night (local time) in a residential area of Eastman, special agent Scott Whitley of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations told the Associated Press.

Mr Whitley said Mr Smith was responding to a suspicious person call when he encountered the suspect, exited his patrol car and was shot. The suspect fled the scene.

Mr Whitley said Mr Smith was in his early 30s but no further information about him was available.

He says an unidentified suspect is being sought and an investigation is ongoing.

Mr Smith was not wearing a body camera.