The Salvation Army Provides Support Following Americus Shooting
Donald Felice | donald.felice@uss.salvationarmy.org | (404) 550-3716
AMERICUS, GA (December 8, 2016) – The Salvation Army provided hot coffee, snacks and hydration to incident responders at the Police Command Center late into the night and early hours following the shooting of two law enforcement officers in Americus, Georgia.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, Georgia Southwestern State University was put in lockdown status after a reported shooting of two law enforcement officials answering a domestic disturbance call. Americus police officer Nicholas Ryan Smarr was killed at the scene, and Georgia State University officer Jodi Smith died of his injuries Thursday afternoon. Both were long-time friends since high school. The suspect, 32-year-old Minguell Kennedy Lembrick, shot himself Thursday morning after a standoff with law enforcement officials at his Americus home.
The Salvation Army Americus mobile canteen was deployed at the request of Americus Fire Department Battalion Chief, Tommy Whitaker, who also serves as The Salvation Army Advisory Board Chairman for Americus. The mobile canteen was stationed at the Police Command Center shortly after it was set up on Wednesday afternoon to provide hydration, snacks and hot coffee to responders. The Salvation Army staff and volunteers continued to serve responders through the late hours of Wednesday, and again starting in the early hours of Thursday until 3:00 p.m.
A total of over 200 cups of hot coffee, 350 snacks and 100 bottles of water were served to a very thankful parade of local and state law enforcement and fire officials.
“The people we served were so thankful we were there for them,” said Misty Belcher, The Salvation Army Service Center Director for Americus. “One Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent stopped by to say ‘Thank you,’ gave me a GBI pin and told me I was an honorary part of the GBI team for the day.”
“The Salvation Army has been on the scene of the shooting providing hot coffee, snacks and hydration throughout the incident,” said Major Jack Butler, The Salvation Army of Georgia Emergency Disaster Director. “I want to thank our Salvation Army staff and volunteers for what they are doing as they serve ‘in His name’ to those in crisis.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen officers, and with the city of Americus.
About The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army annually helps more than 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.