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Thompson had provided change to a woman inside the gas station who was slightly short for her purchase, the GBI said. The woman was buying cigarettes, ABC Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV reported.

As he exited the store, he smelled what he suspected was marijuana and encountered 27-year-old Tameka LaShay Simpson, who was the passenger in the car the woman Thompson gave change to was driving, according to authorities.

\"PHOTO:
Google
PHOTO: A BP gas station located at 312 N Wall St. in Calhoun Georgia.
>

Thompson then called in a suspicious vehicle, the GBI said. When Yother arrived, he approached the car and asked Simpson for her identification, when she allegedly pulled a gun out of the glove box, WSB-TV reported.

Simpson then allegedly began shooting, striking Yother in the arm, authorities said. That bullet then ricocheted toward his chest but was thwarted by his phone, according to the GBI.

Simpson was struck and killed as officers returned fire, authorities said. The female driver, who was not identified, was taken into custody on unrelated charges.

Yother was treated at a local hospital. He is a 25-year law enforcement veteran, WSB-TV reported.

Just confirmed this picture shows @CalhounPolice officer Joe Yother. He’s recovering after the #GBI says a woman shot him in the chest. The bullet hit his vest, deflected off his phone and struck his arm. pic.twitter.com/evPsn8Qq8P

— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) December 12, 2018

Gas station employee Cheressa Kaimi, who was not working at the time of the shooting, described the incident as \"shocking and kind of frightful\" to WSB-TV, adding that a burglary just occurred down the street a few weeks ago.

The GBI is investigating the shooting, said spokeswoman Nelly Miles.

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