A Georgia homeowner shot and killed an off-duty Atlanta police officer who broke into his neighbor's home at 5 a.m. Friday. Authorities are calling the shooting self-defense.
Atlanta police identified the officer as Detective Aubrey Horton. WAGA-TV reported.
“I've lived here for five years and I can promise you it's not what you expect to see here.”
Mr. Horton was selected by Investigator of the Year At the Atlanta Police Foundation's 20th Annual MeetingCrime is toast” Awarded on September 24th.
According to WAGA, the incident occurred at a home on Orkney Way near East Carroll Road in the St. Andrews Country Club area.
Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds told the department that deputies responded to a call of a robbery at the scene of the shooting.
“Regarding the attempted robbery, it is our understanding that an individual attempted to enter a residence,” the sheriff told WAGA. “Once inside, the homeowner produced a gun in self-defense and shot the individual,” Pounds said, adding that the individual was deceased.
The fatal shooting shocked neighbors, the department said.
“I've lived here for five years and I can promise you this is not what you expect to see here,” resident Milton Johnston told WAGA.
Authorities told the station that Horton also lived in a neighborhood about a half-mile from the scene and may have been mentally ill or under the influence of drugs.
“We believe the robber lived in the neighborhood,” Pounds told WAGA. “This is an active investigation and there are still many details to be worked out.”
Atlanta police confirmed in a statement that Horton, who has been with the department since November 2015 and was recently assigned to the fugitive unit, was off-duty at the time of the incident, the department said.
“We are working closely with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office to learn more about what happened as the investigation continues,” a statement from the police department said, according to WAGA.
You can view the video report here and hereabout the incident.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
