The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been called to examine a shooting incident involving a Brookhaven officer, in the aftermath of a reported home burglary and a high-speed chase that ensued.
The incident began when Brookhaven police received a call about a home invasion in the 2700 block of Caldwell Road around 10 p.m. yesterday. According to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta, while en route to the scene, officers were informed of a gunfight involving the suspects and a friend of the homeowner. A total of four men were spotted by the homeowner moving through her backyard prompting her to rush home and call a friend, who confronted the suspects, the GBI informed.
As revealed by FOX 5 Atlanta, the attempt to escape by the suspects in a Lexus was thwarted by police. "One of our canine officers was able to spot the suspect vehicle as it was leaving the scene. A vehicle pursuit was initiated, and it ended here on Peachtree Road," noted GBI. The chase concluded with their vehicle crashing at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road, after which the suspects attempted to flee.
According to the GBI, the driver, 19-year-old Albert Eugene Burn, confronted officers with a gun outside the crashed vehicle. In response, a Brookhaven police officer shot Burns once, and then again when he attempted to retrieve one of the two weapons he had dropped. The AJC also provided additional details, noting that two other suspects were taken into custody with assistance from local law enforcement, but a fourth suspect remains unaccounted for.
Citizens like Andrew Fisher and Tony Mora expressed their concerns to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Fisher remarked upon hearing the gunfire, "Of course, you think it’s fireworks at first, but I mean, it was sporadic, and you could tell it’s a little bit different." Mora, awoken by police activity, stated, "That’s why I moved here because it’s quiet. I never thought that would happen here. I mean, it’s too much." He further added the need to "be more cautious and just kind of always be on guard."
Burns, who sustained gunshot wounds, was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition. The GBI will conduct an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting, and police are encouraging anyone with information to call the tip line at 1-800-597-8477.
