Atlanta ( CNN ) -- The barricaded suspect in the slaying of an Athens , Georgia , police officer released four of eight hostages Friday night , said Vernon Keenan , director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation . Keenan said the GBI is in contact with the suspect , who authorities have identified as Jamie Donnell Hood . Hoping to get a message to Hood via local newscasts , Keenan said , `` I want to commit to you , if you come out without a weapon , you will not be harmed . '' `` We have a good rapport with him , '' Keenan said of Hood , who was in an apartment . Hood is wanted in connection to Tuesday 's slaying of Senior Police Officer Elmer `` Buddy '' Christian , 34 , and the wounding of Senior Police Officer Tony Howard , 43 . `` It is our objective to have the safe release of the persons that are in the apartment with him , and then to have the safe surrender of Mr . Hood , '' Keenan told reporters earlier . John Bankhead , a GBI spokesman , said Hood has asked negotiators to bring his mother to the scene . He and Keenan both said that children are among the hostages . Keenan would not say how long the hostages had been held and declined to provide any further details . `` There 's too much at stake here , '' he said . The incident began Tuesday afternoon on the east side of the city when a vehicle was carjacked , said Hilda Sorrow , a police spokeswoman . Hood , who was believed to be involved , was later seen as a passenger in another vehicle , a red SUV , she said . When Howard stopped that SUV near Sycamore Drive and Atlanta Highway , the man believed to be Hood got out and began shooting , police said . As the gunman ran off , he came across Christian 's patrol car , Sorrow said , and fired into the vehicle . On foot , the gunman eventually reached a highway and carjacked a Chevrolet Prizm , police said . It was later found abandoned , Sorrow said . According to police , Hood is 5 feet , 8 inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds . He has several tattoos , including `` Robert/Dad '' on his right arm and `` Mom/Azale '' and a heart on his left arm . He was last seen wearing a white shirt with a yellow design and blue jean shorts . Athens , about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta , is home to the University of Georgia . CNN 's Chuck Johnston contributed to this report .
NEW : Suspect Jamie Donnell Hood releases four hostages , an official says . He is wanted in connection to Tuesday 's slaying of a Georgia police officer . The suspect was shot and killed by authorities after he refused orders from officers who had surrounded his home for hours.