A man was killed and a police officer was wounded in a pre-dawn shooting Friday in a shopping mall parking lot in Georgia, state and local authorities said.

The incident began around 3:45 am, when Centerville police officers responded to a gym in the Houston County Galleria in response to a report linking an individual to a domestic violence incident.

At the scene, they located Michael Dwayne Bell, 37, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, inside a parked semi-trailer truck. Police in nearby Byron were seeking him for alleged involvement in a domestic dispute, according to the police report.

The shooting and SWAT intervention

According to Centerville police, officers attempted to arrest Bell, but he refused to get out of the vehicle. As officers attempted to enter the cab, the suspect opened fire, wounding a Warner Robins Police Department officer.

Responding to the situation, officers responded with gunfire and then retreated to establish a perimeter, requesting assistance from a SWAT team. Despite attempts to communicate, there was no response from inside the truck.

Around 6:20 am, the tactical team entered and found Bell dead. It has not yet been confirmed whether the man committed suicide or was shot by officers.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. Once the investigation is complete, the Houston County District Attorney's Office will evaluate whether charges may be filed against any law enforcement officers.

The injured officer was taken to a hospital area where he is expected to make a full recovery.

The Houston County Galleria mall is located in central Georgia,about 130 kilometers south of Atlanta.