Suspect In Murder Of Georgia Director Apologizes

March 27, 2011: This image provided by the Clarke County Georgia Sheriff's department shows a photo of Jamie Hood, 33, who is charged in the slaying of a Georgia police officer and who allegedly held nine hostages at an Athens home days later.

Athens, Georgia - A man accused of murdering a police officer in Georgia and nine hostages were held overnight at his home in Athens later told a TV news crew who repents of what happened.

Since Jamie Hood was taken into custody late Friday, said WXIA-TV reporter Doug Richards, a brief interview, "I'm sorry for killing the officer." NBC affiliate in Atlanta, was presented during an interview on Saturday.

When Richards asked what he meant, a handcuffed Hood said: "This officer. This officer innocent. I'm sorry. He did not deserve this."

When asked why he did it, Hood said: "You know, they killed my brother, they would kill me .."

The 33-year-old Hood was held Saturday without bail on murder and other charges in Hall County jail. He is accused of fatally shooting Athens-Clarke County police officer Elmer "Buddy" Christian and injured a second officer on Tuesday.

Hood's brother was killed by a police officer in Athens in 2001, while Hood was serving a prison sentence for armed robbery.

Same time, police said Saturday were trying to figure out how long the Hood lived at the apartment in Athens, where he was held hostage on Friday night before they agreed to surrender, provided that it was sent to news.

Athens police Capt. Clarence Holeman said late Saturday that authorities are still investigating the circumstances of the impasse, including relations between the cover and the hostages.

"We're just trying to get to the bottom of how it happened," said Holeman. None of the hostages have been accused of any crime, he said.

Seemed almost a hostage to defend Hood Saturday morning, raising questions about whether the suspect convicted felon and murder knew some people who police said were hostages.

"Jaime did no harm to any of us," said Quintero riden, one of the hostages, outside the station in Athens-Clarke County police after being questioned by police. "They treated us like family."

The manhunt drama by the Bell ended around 23:15 on Friday, he left an apartment complex with no shirt and surrounded by five of the nine adults and children captive for hours, negotiated with the federal, provincial and local . They left in a single file, with arms in the air. The hostages were interrogated by the police.

"Thank God it's over," said Jennifer Hood, sister of the suspect on Saturday. "It is finally over."

Tattooed, shaved head hood was immediately swarmed by officers tactical green fatigues and armed with high powered weapons, patting down and ordered him to the ground. He did not resist.

"He was convinced he would be killed by the police," said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan, an hour earlier had been in front of television cameras to promise Hood, he would not suffer if he turned in and freed the hostages.

Hood was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1997 for armed robbery and was released in 2009.

In 2001, when Hood was serving time, his 22-year-old brother Timothy Hood was shot by police in Athens. Investigators said at the time that Timothy Hood, pulled a gun on an officer and was killed when the gun jammed.

Keenan said Hood insisted that the donation would be broadcast live news crew in a way that is not affected. WXIA-TV pool camera crew office.

Investigators said they believe that cocaine Hood on Friday.

Campaign for an initial hearing was not set on Saturday afternoon. His attorney, Jim Smith, did not return a message for comment on Saturday.

According to authorities, the nine hostages, including a child, a baby and a girl of 13 years. None appeared to be injured. Holeman said Hood was armed during the break, but did not disclose details.

Police had been searching for Hood since Tuesday, when Christian was killed.

The officers had stopped Hood, while he was in an SUV west of Athens around 1:00 Tuesday, seeking to question him in connection with a carjacking and kidnapping. The driver was arrested, but police said Hood is out of the car and shot another officer, Tony Howard, face and upper body. Hood then shot and killed Christian, sitting in the patrol car, authorities said. Howard is recovering.

The manhunt led authorities to several locations in Athens-Clarke County, about 75 miles northeast of Atlanta when they received an avalanche of advice on where he could hide. Agents in a field in eastern Athens, about an apartment complex and barricading roads.

As the search intensified, police handed Hood about 15:40 on Friday and asked to speak with the authorities to abandon Keenan said. He told police he feared for his life, and that he would harm the hostages if its demands were not met, Keenan said.

Hood refused to respond to the TV reporter asked if he had threatened to harm people in the apartment on Friday.

After hours of negotiations, Hood agreed in about 21 free four hostages.

Former University of Georgia football player Bryant Gantt, who knew, Hood said in passing that he had sent a message on his Facebook page, offering to help. As police closed his friends put us Gantt Hood phone. The former footballer told WSB-TV who helped the FBI negotiators to talk to the suspect.

"It was up and down, you know," said Gantt. "I was scared. At last I could say I was afraid of the big picture. He was ready to get it over with. I was tired, worn out."

Jennifer Campana, said his brother has been coaching soccer for kids and playing sports in high school and never missed a family event. She said she arrived home yesterday morning, hours before the shooting, but she was in the shower and went before I could see.

"I wish there was something I could say or do," he said.

Police expect thousands to attend the funeral on Sunday for Christians, who was a veteran of eight years of the policy of Athens. Christian, 34, married with two small children.