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New suspect arrested in Atlanta police killings

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  • NEW: A man who was taken into custody Thursday will be released, WSB reports
  • Police Friday arrest Mario O'Brian Westbrook near downtown Atlanta
  • The two off-duty officers were killed Wednesday at an apartment complex
  • Police chief: "They never had a chance"
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ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Another suspect wanted in connection with the shooting deaths of two suburban Atlanta police officers this week was arrested Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Mario O'Brian Westbrook, 31, was taken into custody near downtown Atlanta, said James Ergas, supervisory inspector for the U.S. Marshals.

Police sought him in the Wednesday deaths of DeKalb County police officers Ricky Bryant Jr., 26, and Eric Barker, 33.

Hours after the slayings, police arrested Herbie Deshawn Durham, 32.

On Thursday, Deanthius Jamal Johnson, 28, was arrested. Police said earlier Friday that William Maurice Woodard, 26, was also taken into custody.

Johnson will be released and won't be charged in the case, CNN affiliate WSB reported.

Tips from the public indicated he talked about being at the crime scene, but that information proved to be incorrect, officials told the station.

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The slain officers -- who were both married with four children -- were moonlighting by providing overnight security at an apartment complex, DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton said.

They were responding to a call about a suspicious person early Wednesday when someone fired on them, he said. "They never had a chance."

One officer died at the scene, and the other died at a hospital.

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"Hearing the screams of the widows that are without husbands now is a sound you never want to hear," Bolton said. "This is a must-solve crime." Video Watch Bolton describe the killings »

A reward of more than $65,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murder suspects, police said. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

CNN's Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.

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