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Alabama police officer, suspect killed after long standoff

By Sara Shayanian

Feb. 21 (UPI) -- An Alabama police officer and a suspect wanted in connection to a homicide both died after an hours-long SWAT standoff early Wednesday, authorities said.

Officials said Mobile, Ala., police officer Justin Billa was shot during the siege and died later at a hospital.

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Police said the standoff began around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday when suspect Robert Hollie barricaded himself inside a home in Mobile's Toulminville community. Investigators had been looking to question him in the death of his ex-wife, whose body was found Tuesday.

Hollie also died at the end of the standoff, but it wasn't immediately clear how he was shot.

Billa was named police officer of the month in June 2016 and was recognized for an investigation into a string of robberies in Alabama.

"I am concerned about the officer's family, and I'm concerned about the rest of the officers who on a daily basis put their lives on the lives for the city," Mobile Councilman Fred Richard said.

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