Cops: Man who shot self during standoff was operating marijuana ‘grow house'

By Kristi E. Swartz and Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The man who shot and killed himself after a standoff with Atlanta police was operating an extensive marijuana "grow house" inside the Barge Road home, police said Monday night.

The man, whose name has not been released, barricaded himself inside a Barge Road home in southwest Atlanta following his arrest Monday afternoon, police said.

The incident started when police saw two men near Barge Road and detained them. It is unclear what the men were doing or why authorities arrested them. One of the man had an outstanding warrant, police said. The other said he lived in a house right up the street, police said.

Officers escorted the man, who was handcuffed, to his home.

"When he was allowed by officers to get ID from inside of the home, he quickly took possession of a handgun behind his back and pointed it in officers' direction," said Carlos Campos, spokesman for Atlanta police.

Officers took cover, and the man slammed the door of the home, beginning the standoff, Campos said.

Members from the Atlanta police's SWAT team came to the scene. While they were trying to talk to the man, officers said they heard a single gunshot from inside the house.

Once inside the home, officers said they then found the man had committed suicide. Investigators found bolt cutters in the home, which the man apparently used to cut off the handcuffs and shoot himself, Campos said.

Narcotics officers remained on the scene Monday evening, executing search warrants to investigate the drugs found in the home, Campos said.