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GREENSBORO -- The man killed Wednesday night by a police officer had jumped into the officer's SUV and was dragging the officer when he was shot, according to a search warrant application filed in Guilford County court.

The application from a State Bureau of Investigation agent provides new details into the shooting death on Interstate 40.

Also Friday, police released the identity of the man shot to death: Emile Baptist Williams, 39, of 1211 Trillium Circle in Raleigh. Williams is believed to have snatched two diamonds from a Four Seasons Town Centre jewelry store before leading police Officer W.M. Symmes on a chase that reached speeds of 100 mph.

Symmes, who was working off-duty at the mall, was in his police-issued unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe when he chased Williams down the interstate. The Honda Accord driven by Williams crashed into a guardrail along the exit to Interstate 85 southbound. The car then struck Symmes' vehicle. Williams was driving an estimated 55 mph at impact; Symmes at 15 mph, according to the accident report.

In the search warrant, Special Agent Gerald R. Thomas wrote that after the wreck, a "physical altercation" occurred between Symmes and the man in the wrecked Honda Accord. Williams is not mentioned by name in the warrant because he had not been positively identified.

Williams then jumped into Symmes' patrol vehicle and tried to flee, according to the warrant. Symmes reached inside to try to stop the vehicle, but couldn't and was dragged a short distance.

Symmes then pulled his gun and shot the suspect once in the neck area. The SUV came to a stop; Symmes put it in park and called for help. Williams died from his injuries. Symmes was treated at the hospital and released.

The Honda Accord that Williams had been driving was reported stolen to Raleigh police on Feb. 26, 2007.

The warrant states that Williams was believed to have two stolen diamond rings valued at a combined $36,000. The warrant seeks to look for more property and items that would identify the man later determined to be Williams.

Authorities seized clothing and several North Carolina license plates from the car.

According to records with the N.C. Department of Correction, Williams has a conviction record that includes robbery, possession of stolen property and assaulting a police officer and fleeing from an officer.

The SBI is investigating the police-involved shooting.

From today's News & Record, by staff writer Gerald Witt:

GREENSBORO — Police released the name of the off-duty police officer who fatally shot a suspect in a grab-and-run theft Wednesday night of an engagement ring from a mall jewelry store.

Officer W.M. Symmes responded to a report of larceny at Helzberg Diamonds at Four Seasons Town Centre, and attempted to stop the suspect, who was fleeing in a car, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release.

The suspect's name was not released, police said, because investigators were still attempting to notify the next of kin.

A scanner recording from the Guilford County emergency communications center shows that a suspected theft about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday became a car chase on Interstate 40 eastbound after the suspect left Helzberg Diamonds at Four Seasons Town Centre.

Symmes tried to stop the suspect at the mall, where Symmes was working off-duty, according to police. But the suspect left the parking lot in a black Honda Accord, driving toward I-40.

Symmes followed in his police-issued unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe.

The chase approached speeds of nearly 100 mph down the interstate, according to the recording.

It ended less than two miles from where it started.

The Honda Accord crashed into a guardrail along the exit to Interstate 85 southbound.

No other officers were involved in the pursuit, said Lt. Hope Newkirk, spokeswoman for the police department.

"Don't move," an unidentified officer said in the scanner recording.

"Shots fired! Shots fired!" the officer said next.

The suspect and Symmes were involved in an altercation before the officer shot the suspect, police Chief Tim Bellamy said.

Police wouldn't say if the suspect was armed, or if so, who fired first.

Newkirk said that the State Bureau of Investigation is handling the shooting investigation.

Symmes was on administrative duty Thursday, Newkirk said, which is common procedure for officers who discharge a weapon in the line of duty. Symmes joined the Greensboro Police Department in March 2002.

He has been assigned to the Police Canine Unit since May 2007.

Greensboro police are investigating the larceny report from the jewelry store, the chase and the car crash, Newkirk said.

SBI spokeswoman Noelle Talley said the SBI could not answer questions about details of the shooting until investigators wrap up the case.

A Guilford County EMS dispatcher said three ambulances were called to the site of the shooting at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday.

The suspect was taken to Moses Cone Hospital and was pronounced dead, Bellamy said Wednesday.

Symmes was treated at the hospital and released, Newkirk said.

SBI investigators arrived about 7:45 p.m., Talley said.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com