Georgia Sheriff's Deputies Escort Slain Colleague’s Son To School

After a sheriff's deputy in Georgia was killed in the line of duty, fellow officers stepped in to make sure his nine-year-old son was not alone on his first day of school.

On July 8, Nicolas Blane Dixon, a deputy with the Hall County Sheriff's office, was fatally shot while on duty, according to Atlanta's WSB-TV.

The 28-year-old father of two, who lived with his family in Gainesville, was attempting to stop a stolen car when he was fatally shot.

WSB-TV reports that Dixon had been with the department for three years.

According to the sheriff's department, Dixon was a father to a 9-year-old son, Caden, and a 4-month-old son. WSB-TV reported Dixon's wife, Stephanie Dixon, described her husband as the "best dad ever."

Devastated by the loss, more than a dozen of Dixon's colleagues stepped in to offer Caden support. On Wednesday morning, they arrived at Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy and accompanied him to class.

"Since the tragedy last month, members of the [Patrol] Watch and other deputies … have been actively involved with serving and comforting Dixon's family," Hall County Sheriff department spokesman Derreck Booth said in a statement.

"He always had a smile on his face and was known for going beyond the call of duty to help citizens he came into contact with on his shift," Booth added.

Speaking about Caden, Sgt. Charles Hewell said in a statement: "He was having a rough morning because he didn't want to go to school without his dad being there. Seeing his reaction when he saw us made everything worth it."

Four teenage suspects, all 17, are in police custody, authorities said. Each is facing a felony murder charge, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Read more: WSB-TV, Atlanta Journal-Constituiton.