The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been called to review an officer-involved shooting in Brookhaven, GA. According to a press release posted on the GBI's official website, 19-year-old Albert Eugene Burns of Snellville, GA, was shot by a Brookhaven Police Department officer after a chaotic home invasion and subsequent getaway attempt that ended in gunfire.
On the night of August 15, 2024, four armed suspects reportedly entered a home on Caldwell Road. The homeowner, while remotely monitoring home surveillance, observed the intrusion and quickly informed a friend who came to challenge the gunmen. A heated exchange of fire ensued before the suspects fled in a Lexus, only to crash into a utility pole in Chamblee as police pursued them. It's in this frenzied escape that Burns, still brandishing a weapon, chose to initially run along with his accomplices before an officer engaged and unholstered his firearm, shooting Burns.
While no officers were harmed during the incident, Burns sustained injuries and was subsequently transported to a local hospital. As authorities set up a perimeter with the aid of Dunwoody and Chamblee PDs, two other suspects—22-year-old Davion Harper of Conyers, GA, and 18-year-old Tyson Kamari Kirksey, also of Conyers—were apprehended. The fourth suspect remains on the lam. Police have encouraged anyone with information about his whereabouts to reach out, offering ways to provide tips anonymously through a hotline, online submissions, or a mobile app.
The Brookhaven Police Department has taken the lead to investigate the initial home invasion and aggravated assault. Meanwhile, the GBI is conducting an independent probe to evaluate the officer's split-second decision to use lethal force against Burns. Once their investigation concludes, findings will be handed over to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office to consider the appropriateness of the officer's actions and whether to bring forward any charges.
