Homicide

Authorities say man accused of killing Georgia cop arrested

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This undated photo provided by the Nassau County Sheriff's Office in Florida, shows the booking photo of 24-year-old Royheem Delshawn Deeds. Authorities say Deeds killed Eastman Patrol Officer Tim Smith about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in a residential area of that city, which is about 60 miles southeast of Macon, Ga. (Nassau County Sheriff's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Eastman Police Department shows Patrol Officer Tim Smith. Authorities say 24-year-old Royheem Delshawn Deeds has been arrested and is accused of killing Smith, 31, about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in a residential area of McRae, Ga., which is about 60 miles southeast of Macon. (Courtesy of Eastman Police Department via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

Authorities in south Georgia say a man accused of fatally shooting a police officer has been arrested.

The Telfair County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on its website Monday that 24-year-old Royheem Delshawn Deeds was in custody.

Authorities say Deeds killed Eastman Patrol Officer Tim Smith about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in a residential area of that city, which is about 60 miles southeast of Macon.

Authorities say Smith, who was 31, was responding to a suspicious person call when he encountered Deeds, exited his patrol car and was shot.

The sheriff's office statement did not provide any additional details on the arrest, and it wasn't immediately clear whether Deeds has an attorney.

Smith had been with the Eastman Police Department since 2011. He was a father of three.