Georgia State troop eris shot near site of new police training facility trends now

A Georgia State trooper was shot Wednesday morning by a protester at the site of a proposed police training facility just outside of Atlanta.

Authorities say the trooper was helping to conduct a 'clearing operation' at the site in DeKalb County when a protester opened fire. Officers fired back and the unnamed man was pronounced dead at the scene, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The trooper, who has not yet been named was in surgery by Wednesday afternoon and was in stable condition, Georgia State Patrol Col. Chris Wright said at a news conference outside Grady Memorial Hospital.

The shooting is just the latest in a series of altercations that have broken out in recent weeks at the site of the $90million project.

Extremists who call themselves the 'Forest Defenders' have previously thrown rocks and Molotov cocktails at police and contractors at the site. And just last month, five Antifa members were arrested on domestic terrorism charges for their role in the ongoing chaos.

Another protester was also pictured being detained at the site following the shooting Wednesday.

Protesters argue that the proposed training facility represents Atlanta police becoming increasingly militarized and say the destruction of the forest will exacerbate climate change and lead to more pollution.

The proposal would cut out 381 acres of the Weelaunee Forest, which is currently owned by the state.

But the protesters have become increasingly violent over the past few weeks, destroying property, committing arson and even attacking local and government officials.

It all seemed to come to a head last month when five Antifa members were arrested and charged with terrorism. 

Authorities said at the time Serena Hertel, 25, of California, Nicholas Olson, 25, of Nebraska, Francis Carroll, 22, of Maine, Arieon Robinson, 22, of Wisconsin and Leonardo Vioselle, 20, of Macon, Georgia, were involved in the riots — attacking police and other emergency service workers with rocks and bottles.

After officers cleared the area, they also found bombs, flares and gasoline.

Other crimes were also reported when the local fire department was called to the scene to extinguish a dumpster fire. 

Richard Porter told WXIA that members of the group threw things at him including a 'gas bomb.' He fled, leaving his truck behind which was burned out. Porter told the channel: 'It seemed to me like they were going to burn the truck with me in it.'

Vioselle is the only member of the group is from the area where the public safety center is being constructed. Authorities used used tear gas and pepper balls to clear the protesters from the scene.