MARCH 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.3

AROUND THE

AROUND THE COUNTRYROSWELL, GA.Police Officer Jeremy Labonte was shot and killed while respondingto a suspicious person at a shopping center in Roswell.ROSWELL, GA. - Roswell policeofficer Jeremy LaBonte waskilled responding to a call at abusy shopping center off HolcombBridge Road.Officers were called outaround 7:15 p.m. Friday to theKing Market shopping center at1425 Market Blvd., near Georgia400.According to the Roswell PoliceDepartment, officers were calledout due to a report of a suspiciousperson. Officer Labonte,24, found a man in a parking lotnear the ACE Pickleball Club.Roswell Police Chief JamesConroy said that person almostimmediately pulled out a gunand opened fire on Labonte.He was struck several times.First aid was rendered by otherofficers, and he was rushed toan area hospital, where he waspronounced dead.Other officers chased theshooter and were able to takehim into custody.Officer Jeremy Labonte joinedthe Roswell Police Departmenton Nov. 1, 2021. He was a memberof the night shift patrol."He stood side by side with hisD-squad brothers and sisters,serving with honor, integrity andan unshakable sense of duty,"40 The BLUES - MARCH ‘25said Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson.Those who knew him best sayhe was a friend, a husband, ason and a public servant wholeft a "void that could never befilled.""It is a loss many communitymembers say they are strugglingto understand," said Michael Hernandez,chairman of the RoswellFirst Responders Foundation."Sickening, nauseous, I couldn’tbelieve it."The Roswell Police Departmentand the Friends of Roswell Policehave established a fund throughPayPal to collect donations forthe Labonte family. Officials saythis is the only authorized donationplatform for the family.Hernandez said the RoswellFirst Responders Foundation hasalso connected with the policedepartment and offered services.In the days, weeks and monthsahead, he said they will helpmake sure family, colleaguesand first responders feel the supportof the community after thistragedy."I just don’t understand howor why this happened. I willmake sure the foundation willdo anything it can to wrap itsarms around the family, but alsothe police department and theOFFICER JEREMY LABONTEfire department since they werecalled out," said Hernandez. "So,everyone is going to need help.The Georgia Bureau of Investigationidentified the suspect as23-year-old Edward Espinoza, aU.S. citizen, on Saturday morning.Espinoza was arrested andcharged with malice murder, felonymurder, aggravated assaulton a peace officer, and possessionof a firearm during the commissionof a felony.Once the investigation is complete,the case file will be givento the Fulton County District Attorney'sOffice for prosecution.

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