DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 8:59 p.m. April 30, 2009
Police: Gwinnett deputy killed in struggle over gun at home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, April 30, 2009
An off-duty Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Thursday morning in Dacula.
The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. during a domestic dispute at a house on Austin Ridge Drive, according to Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli.
John Spink / jspink@ajc.com
Investigators process the crime scene.
Gwinnett County Sheriff
Deputy Donald Bassett was 38 years old.
Schiralli identified the deputy as 38-year-old Donald Bassett.
“Investigators believe that just before he was shot, he had been involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, who also lived at the location,” Schiralli said.
The two struggled over a handgun, and the weapon discharged, striking Bassett, who later died at Gwinnett Medical Center.
Investigators were still interviewing the woman, Morgan Schrader, 20, and had not yet filed any charges.
Schrader’s brother, Adam, said his sister and Bassett got engaged on New Year’s Eve, and planned to marry next April.
“They just went canoeing Sunday, and we were babysitting the dog, and they came back and were all happy,” Adam Schrader said.
He said his sister is a Georgia State University student who has worked part time at the sheriff’s department.
The shooting happened in a two-story house in the neighborhood of well-kept homes and manicured lawns off Fence Road, not far from Ga. 316.
Josue Morales lives across the street from the deputy. He said he had not yet met the couple who recently moved across the street.
“They looked real happy together,” he said. “Wednesday, they were hugging and kissing in the front yard.”
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